Alwaght- The Fallujah liberation operation and counting the seconds with ISIS terror group last breath in Iraq have provided the needed material for this analysis not because it is the first operation concluded by a united body of an array of Iraqi forces but because having an approach on the Fallujah battle needs a real understanding of what the operation means militarily and also needs linking it to the intentions of the engaged regional and international sides.

Also, it needs taking into consideration the Iraqi power to plan and launch the liberating operation which the Iraqis proved successful in, especially because of a firm coordination between the political parties and also a unity between the ordinary people with different religious bonds who helped make a success of the launching and continuing the operation. The Iraqis made a new achievement in fight against terrorism and division efforts in a time that some sides, including the US and its Arab allies, have been working to fan tensions among them.

 

On Fallujah recapture assault and the account of liberation

A series of issues could be brought in spotlight to elaborate on the significance of the Iraqi forces' anti-terror offensive and the way it was started:

In first view, Fallujah is considered as the first city the terrorists of ISIS captured with a backing from the US in January 2014. The recapture of the city was not in vain due to its geographical significance.

Geographically, Fallujah is second-largest city in Al Anbar province after Ramadi and it is 50 kilometers away from the capital Baghdad. This is what makes it of military significance. Additionally, the city is located in the middle of the country, linking a couple of cities in the south, north, east and the west. The location gives Fallujah a strategic position. The city is a gate for the militants coming to Iraq from Syria to join their fellow terrorists of ISIS. The terror group made the city stand as the major threat to Baghdad, specifically southern Baghdad.

Mixing of the terrorists with the defenseless civilians and using them as human shields are seen as the major factors causing delay in start of the operation in Fallujah. These two factors made it difficult to design the operation while Washington and its Arab allies have launched a propaganda, promoting that it was too hard to arrange for the assault due to existence of the civilians in the city.

However, the Iraqis, using their experiences in liberating other cities across the country, have nullified the American propaganda and especially efforts for deepening the gaps in a bid to impede advances in liberation of Fallujah. The Iraqis with progressive steps finally designed the operation and then followed it by beginning the liberating assault.

The battlefield information suggest that the operation has begun from six directions. The first direction is north of the city towards Tigris River's banks and Albosoda District. The second assault direction is the Al-Karamah town, starting from Al-Karamah Bridge to the center of Fallujah. The third way starts from Al-lifya District towards Al-Shahabi town. The fourth assault begins from Saqlawiyah's north towards Alboshagel District. The Iraqi forces also moved from Al-Sobeyhat region towards the Blue Factory in south of the city as part of fifth assault direction. And for sixth direction, the Iraqis launched their assault from southwestern Fallujah towards the Jordanian Hospital.

The Iraqi forces used a tactic of breaking the liberation operation in two parts. The first part is tightening the encirclement and blockade. It was followed by the second part which was storming. Here the Iraqis showed a military smartness in the implementation stage as they, backed by the Public Mobilization Forces (PMF), started their assault after they encircled the positions of the terrorists.

On the other side, the federal police, counter-terrorism units as well as tribal forces have launched their offensives against Fallujah while backed by the Iraqi air force. The operation made all of the Iraqis parties to the anti-terror assault on Fallujah with a consideration of the diversity and significance of the city.

The major progresses that were made by the PMF and tribal forces-backed army units were reported to be in an array of regions including Al-Sobayhat, Al-Falahat, Alboshandokh, Al-Duwaybah, Al-Mazrah, Al-Maydan, Al-Nouaymiyah, Alboshagel, and the government buildings in Fallujah where the Iraqi flag was flown.

The right designing and the accurate implementation are said to have foreseen role for the locals in completing the liberation mission.� Actually, they were part of the liberating operation. This participation has helped facilitation of opening safe ways for evacuation of the civilians from Fallujah. The locals also helped cut off military and logistic supply lines of the militants inside the city.

 

Outcomes of the operation

Losing Fallujah is said to be a great loss for the terrorist group and it has military and spiritual consequences for the terrorists beside their administrative consequences for war in Syria and Iraq. The spiritual loss is clear due to the city's position and significance. But the more important issue is the military consequences as Fallujah stands close to Baghdad.� Losing the city means losing a strategic command post by ISIS terror organization. Additionally, losing Fallujah means losing an executive center for the so-called Islamic State as ISIS tries to promote for the city as its stronghold in Iraq. The loss affects the group�s popularity in the region and across the world. This is the crucial principle of terminating any group which seeks to be an organization. The spiritual issues that follow the defeat would make ISIS move years back. It is the power of design and implementation of the operation that hits the terrorist group�s project in roots.

In terms of military aspect, which must be given a special significance, the operation has its own results even after its conclusion. Fallujah is close to Baghdad as it is only 50 kilometers away from the Iraqi capital. Most of ISIS penetrations to Baghdad are done through byways, majorly far from the military supply ways. This makes recapture of Fallujah a prelude to other military successes as the city was considered as a safe haven for the terrorists.

Still from another military aspect, the recapture of Fallujah distances the dangers from Al-dujayl and Al-Bilad towns in Salaheddin province.� This means liberation of Fallujah brings about a line of other achievements for the Iraqi forces at once.

From a popular aspect, as it becomes so important and deserving consideration, the Iraqi people proved their potentials to resist terrorism and division� a factor contributed to mobilization and unity of the Iraqi forces. In fact, everyone in Iraq has accepted that unity is the best weapons in the face of the terrorism. This was translated on the ground as the PMF fought in the battlefield beside the tribal forces to protect the civilians trapped in the city. Also, partnership of these two forces gave a strong back-up to regular Iraqi forces to follow the plans in the frontlines.

Thereby, success of the Iraqis is both a local and regional victory. A win over the terrorism which targeted the Iraq�s unity.� The triumph is to be added to a list of successes of the Axis of Resistance which has Iraq as part of it as it proved resistant to the US' regional and international plans.

Iraq has won the war on terrorism and division. It added another win the Iraqi people and officials are to enjoy its results. In fact, victory in Fallujah liberation operation leads to more results, greater than local results, to be enjoyed by the Resistance Axis.

By Alwaght