The Iraqi ground forces, backed by the country’s Air Force and artillery fire, recaptured four villages of Albu Khamis, Albu Khalid, Albu Asi and Albu Manahi, all located south of the flashpoint city of Fallujah, Arabic-language al-Sumaria news website reported on Wednesday.

The report added that Daesh moved families of its members from southern parts of the city to the central areas but it did not allow civilians to evacuate those areas in order to use them as human shields against the advancing government troops.

Iraqi forces are now just a few kilometers away from the militant-held city from its south.

Meanwhile, chief commander of the military operation in Anbar Ismail Mahlavi announced that at least 100 Daeshis were killed during the past couple of days south of the city and eight booby-trapped vehicles were also destroyed.

Daesh still controls Fallujah, only 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Iraqi capital Baghdad, but it is almost completely besieged by pro-government forces. 

In another offensive against the terrorists, Iraqi F-16 fighter jets destroyed a Daesh-run plant for making booby-trapped cars in the northern province of Nineveh. The airstrikes also targeted a tanker truck, carrying chemical materials, and three vehicles used by the group. At least eight terrorists were also slain in the attack.

The ongoing drive against Daesh is part of a larger operation against the group in Iraq’s west and north, where the militants have been in control of some territories since summer of 2014. The military and allies liberated Ramadi late December following fierce clashes around the town.

The militants have been committing heinous crimes against all ethnic and religious communities in Iraq, including Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, and Christians. Iraqi army soldiers and fighters from allied Popular Mobilization Units are seeking to win back militant-held regions in joint operations; Press TV reported.

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