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Iraqi security forces and supporting militias have retaken the key town of Karma from ISIS, the government's first significant victory in its push to reclaim Falluja, a spokesman for Iraq's Joint Operations Command said Thursday.
The recapture of Karma, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Falluja, brings most of the territory east of Falluja under government control.
The battle for Falluja
11 photos: The battle for Falluja
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Pro-government fighters hold position in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Pro-government forces advance toward Falluja on Monday, May 23.
A fighter with the Badr Brigades, a Shiite militia, takes an ISIS flag down outside Falluja on May 23.
Iraqi Shiite fighters fire artillery near Falluja on May 23.
Members of Saraya al-Salam, a group formed by Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, march in Najaf, south of Falluja, as they prepare to reinforce government forces in the fight against ISIS on May 17.
Iraqi government forces take position east of Falluja on Wednesday, May 25, during a major assault to retake the city from ISIS. Falluja remains one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.<br />
Iraqi pro-government forces fire an anti-tank cannon near the village of al-Sejar on May 25. Falluja, a traditionally Sunni-dominated city, finds itself advanced on by troops representing the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, supported by Shiite militias.<br />
A pro-government fighter holds position in the village of al-Shahabi, east of Falluja, on Tuesday, May 24.
An Iraqi federal police officer moves on a berm outside Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government forces join in an operation in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Pro-government fighters hold position in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Pro-government forces advance toward Falluja on Monday, May 23.
A fighter with the Badr Brigades, a Shiite militia, takes an ISIS flag down outside Falluja on May 23.
Iraqi Shiite fighters fire artillery near Falluja on May 23.
Members of Saraya al-Salam, a group formed by Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, march in Najaf, south of Falluja, as they prepare to reinforce government forces in the fight against ISIS on May 17.
Iraqi government forces take position east of Falluja on Wednesday, May 25, during a major assault to retake the city from ISIS. Falluja remains one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.<br />
Iraqi pro-government forces fire an anti-tank cannon near the village of al-Sejar on May 25. Falluja, a traditionally Sunni-dominated city, finds itself advanced on by troops representing the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, supported by Shiite militias.<br />
A pro-government fighter holds position in the village of al-Shahabi, east of Falluja, on Tuesday, May 24.
An Iraqi federal police officer moves on a berm outside Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government forces join in an operation in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government troops, backed by Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilization Units and an air campaign by the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, launched an offensive Monday to retake Falluja, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad.
It remains, along with Mosul, one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi posted a statement on Facebook congratulating the people of Iraq on the "liberation of al-Karma" and ordered security forces to protect civilians there.
"We are all united to liberate Falluja and save its people from the terror of ISIS," he later tweeted.
Some fighting is ongoing to clear the western parts of Karma of small pockets of ISIS fighters.
Iraqi security forces have spent the better part of a year trying to retake Karma from the terror group, suffering heavy losses.
U.N. fears for 10,000 families trapped in ISIS-held Falluja as Iraq army advances
The recapture of Karma, about 16 kilometers (10 miles) northeast of Falluja, brings most of the territory east of Falluja under government control.
The battle for Falluja
11 photos: The battle for Falluja
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Pro-government fighters hold position in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Pro-government forces advance toward Falluja on Monday, May 23.
A fighter with the Badr Brigades, a Shiite militia, takes an ISIS flag down outside Falluja on May 23.
Iraqi Shiite fighters fire artillery near Falluja on May 23.
Members of Saraya al-Salam, a group formed by Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, march in Najaf, south of Falluja, as they prepare to reinforce government forces in the fight against ISIS on May 17.
Iraqi government forces take position east of Falluja on Wednesday, May 25, during a major assault to retake the city from ISIS. Falluja remains one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.<br />
Iraqi pro-government forces fire an anti-tank cannon near the village of al-Sejar on May 25. Falluja, a traditionally Sunni-dominated city, finds itself advanced on by troops representing the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, supported by Shiite militias.<br />
A pro-government fighter holds position in the village of al-Shahabi, east of Falluja, on Tuesday, May 24.
An Iraqi federal police officer moves on a berm outside Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government forces join in an operation in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Pro-government fighters hold position in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Pro-government forces advance toward Falluja on Monday, May 23.
A fighter with the Badr Brigades, a Shiite militia, takes an ISIS flag down outside Falluja on May 23.
Iraqi Shiite fighters fire artillery near Falluja on May 23.
Members of Saraya al-Salam, a group formed by Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, march in Najaf, south of Falluja, as they prepare to reinforce government forces in the fight against ISIS on May 17.
Iraqi government forces take position east of Falluja on Wednesday, May 25, during a major assault to retake the city from ISIS. Falluja remains one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.<br />
Iraqi pro-government forces fire an anti-tank cannon near the village of al-Sejar on May 25. Falluja, a traditionally Sunni-dominated city, finds itself advanced on by troops representing the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government, supported by Shiite militias.<br />
A pro-government fighter holds position in the village of al-Shahabi, east of Falluja, on Tuesday, May 24.
An Iraqi federal police officer moves on a berm outside Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government forces join in an operation in al-Shahabi on May 24.
Covered in dust, Iraqi federal police arrive to join forces surrounding Falluja on May 24.
Iraqi government troops, backed by Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilization Units and an air campaign by the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition, launched an offensive Monday to retake Falluja, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad.
It remains, along with Mosul, one of the last two Iraqi cities under the Sunni terror group's control.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi posted a statement on Facebook congratulating the people of Iraq on the "liberation of al-Karma" and ordered security forces to protect civilians there.
"We are all united to liberate Falluja and save its people from the terror of ISIS," he later tweeted.
Some fighting is ongoing to clear the western parts of Karma of small pockets of ISIS fighters.
Iraqi security forces have spent the better part of a year trying to retake Karma from the terror group, suffering heavy losses.
U.N. fears for 10,000 families trapped in ISIS-held Falluja as Iraq army advances
exciting times were in.
