Bombing, clashes leave 12 police dead in northern Iraq

At least a dozen Iraqi police officers, including a commander, were killed in a bomb attack as well as clashes with the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the northern province of Salahuddin, a source said Friday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the bomb went off in the town of Amirli, located about 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad, the previous night. Seven policemen, including the Turkmen captain, died.

Four other police officers were killed in separate attacks on security checkpoints in the same area.

Additionally, Shelal Abdul, the mayor of Tuz Khurmatu, said a police chief was killed and five policemen were injured when Daesh terrorists carried out a surprise attack on security forces in the city north of Baghdad.

Battle for Fallujah

On Friday, Iraqi army forces raised the national flag over the main government compound in Fallujah, symbolizing the recapture of the beleaguered western city from Daesh.

The force met limited resistance from the terrorists, who were fleeing the city.

Fallujah is located about 69 kilometers (43 miles) west of the capital.

“The counter-terrorism service and the rapid response forces have retaken the government compound in the center of Fallujah,” said Commander of Fallujah Liberation Operation Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi, adding that “Iraqi forces have now liberated 70 percent of the city.”

Federal Police Forces Commander Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat confirmed the army’s advance in Fallujah, which marks a significant step in the nearly four-week-old offensive to retake the city, which has been a stronghold of Daesh.

“The liberation of the government compound, which is the main landmark in the city, symbolizes the restoration of the state’s authority in Fallujah,” he said.

The northern and western parts of Iraq have been plagued by gruesome violence committed by Daesh since the summer of 2014.