Iraqi Forces Battling IS Reach Fallujah Center

AS IT IS 2016-06-18 Iraqi Forces Battling IS Reach Fallujah Center

Iraqi Special Forces soldiers recaptured a Fallujah city building from Islamic State (IS) fighters Friday.

The Iraqi gain came after a battle to reach the city center that lasted nearly one month.

Fallujah was once a stronghold for IS militants¹. Now, Iraqi forces, supported by U.S.-led airstrikes, have pushed IS out of the city center.

Iraq’s federal police chief said taking the municipal building is a victory for coalition² forces.

"The liberation of the government compound, which is the main landmark³ in the city, symbolizes⁴ the restoration of the state's authority" in Fallujah, he said.

The Islamic State group captured Fallujah in 2014. After heavy fighting in the past month, Iraqi forces have retaken nearly half the city.

In this latest offensive, troops entered the city early in the morning and met little resistance from IS militants.

Lieutenant⁶ General Abdulwahab al-Saadi said, "There is a mass flight of Daesh (IS) to the west that explains this lack of resistance. There are only pockets of them left and we are hunting them down.”

Security officials say many IS members fled the city this week by posing as civilians⁷ fleeing the conflict as the offensive intensified⁸.

Words in This Story

municipal – adj. relating to the government of a city or town

landmark – n. a building, structure of formation that is easy to see and recognized by many people

symbolize⁵ – v. an act or achievement that represents something

restoration – n. the returning of something to a former state or condition

pockets – n. small areas or groups

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

3 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

4 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

6 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

7 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

8 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》