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Fall of ISIS near? Iraqi forces enter Fallujah for 'final' assault

06:43 PM | 30 May, 2016
Fall of ISIS near? Iraqi forces enter Fallujah for 'final' assault
BAGHDAD (Web Desk) - The Iraqi army on Monday began an operation to storm Fallujah, penetrating the city from three directions and marking a new and perilous urban phase in the week-old operation to retake the important ISIS stronghold, which fell into militant hands in January 2014.

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Led by the elite counter-terrorism service (CTS), Iraq’s best trained and most seasoned fighting unit, the forces pushed in before dawn, commanders said.

It comes a week after the government launched a concerted effort to retake the city.

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An estimated 50,000 civilians are still trapped inside, with only a few hundred families having evacuated so far despite government efforts, said the BBC. ISIS is reportedly preventing many families from leaving the area with violence.

Meanwhile, IS militants launched a wave of bombings in and around the capital, Baghdad, killing at least 20 people.

IS fighters are reportedly putting up resistance with suicide and car bombings. The group is thought to have about 1,200 fighters, a majority of whom are from the city itself.

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But while the military said it was advancing towards its goals, so far the fighting seems to be centered on IS defenses outside Fallujah's city limits, the BBC reported.

Militia leaders taking part have said there is likely to be a pause before the assault on the city center begins to allow more civilians to escape.

There is alarm over conditions faced by civilians, with reports of people starving to death and of being killed for refusing to fight for IS.

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The Iraqi military has urged those remaining to either leave the city or stay indoors, knowing that IS is preventing civilians from fleeing.

The fall of Fallujah to ISIS was a key moment in its rise soon after which it declared a caliphate across swathes of Iraq and Syria.

Along with Mosul, it is one of two major cities held by IS in Iraq.

The writer is a member of the staff.

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Currency Rates in Pakistan Today - Pak Rupee to US Dollar, Euro, Dirham, Riyal 19 May 2024

Pakistani currency rates against US Dollar and other currencies on May 18, 2024 (Saturday) in open market.

USD to PKR rate today

US dollar was being quoted at 277.4 for buying and 280.35 for selling.

Euro stands at 297 for buying and 299.5 for selling while British Pound rate is 348.5 for buying, and 352 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED was at 75.25 and Saudi Riyal came down to 73.50.

Today’s currency exchange rates in Pakistan - 19 May 2024

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar USD 277.4 280.35
Euro EUR 297 299.5
UK Pound Sterling GBP 348.5 352
U.A.E Dirham AED 75.25 76
Saudi Riyal SAR 73.5 74.25
Australian Dollar AUD 181 183
Bahrain Dinar BHD 747.77 755.77
Canadian Dollar CAD 203 205
China Yuan CNY 38.49 38.89
Danish Krone DKK 40.25 40.65
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 35.96 36.31
Indian Rupee INR 3.33 3.44
Japanese Yen JPY 1.91 1.99
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 913.28 922.28
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 58.69 59.29
New Zealand Dollar NZD 169.45 171.45
Norwegian Krone NOK 25.67 25.97
Omani Riyal OMR 730.59 738.59
Qatari Riyal QAR 76.41 77.11
Singapore Dollar SGD 203 205
Swedish Korona SEK 25.67 25.97
Swiss Franc CHF 309.01 311.51
Thai Baht THB 7.57 7.72

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