Iraqi Prime Minister receives authorisation to use all means to fight 'terrorism' in Fallujah

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has received authorisation from all parties affiliated to the Shia Iraqi National Alliance to use all means necessary to fight ‘terrorism’ in Fallujah city in Al-Anbar governorate, a member of the Rule of Law Coalition, Ali Al-Bayani, has said.

The Shia Iraqi National Alliance is the largest bloc in the Iraqi parliament and has nominated Al-Maliki for Prime Minister twice. It is made up of the Sadrists, the Supreme Islamic Council, Al-Fadila Bloc, the Reformist National Party and the Rule of Law Coalition, which is headed by Al-Maliki.

Al-Bayani said: “In the last meeting that took place on Wednesday, all blocs of the National Alliance supported all measures taken by the Prime Minister to fight terrorism and release the water of Fallujah Dam, which is blocked by the terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State Party in Iraq and the Levant, Da’esh.”

He added: “The Alliance told Al-Maliki it accepts that all possible measures would be taken by the government to face terrorists from Da’esh, which is linked to Al-Qaeda.”

Two days ago the Security and Defence Committee in the Iraqi parliament announced that the Iraqi security forces would carry out a military operation in the coming few days. The aim is to regain control over the Fallujah Dam on the Euphrates River, which it said had been seized by Da’esh.

Iraqi government and Shia parties accuse Sunni rebels in the Al-Anbar governorates of hiding members of Da’esh. Rebels have denied these accusations several times and affirmed they wanted their demands to be met.

Since the start of their peaceful protest early last year, they have been asking for radical reforms in the political system so that it guarantees the fair representation of Sunnis. Their demands were completely ignored and their protests violently attacked several times.

Last December, the Iraqi army and Shia militias swept the demonstrations and killed and arrested a number of protesters, including a Sunni parliamentarian Ahmed al-Alwani, triggering armed clashes between the tribes and army.