US air strikes kill ISIS leader and 70 fighters
Pro-government forces fighters celebrate as they take part in a major assault on Fallujah (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)
Air strikes have killed an Islamic State leader in Fallujah, it has been confirmed, in a blow to the terrorist organisation’s hopes of maintaining their grasp on the Iraqi city.
US military officials said today that Maher al-Bilawi and 70 fighters had been killed in strikes on the city and elsewhere, reports the Independent.


 Speaking at a press conference In Baghdad, Colonel Steve Warren told reporters the strikes are part of an attempt by coalition forces to ‘liberate’ the city.
‘This won’t cause the enemy to stop fighting but it’s a blow and it creates confusion and the leadership has to move around,’ he said.
He added that the Iraqi government had dropped leaflets on the city of 150,000 people, asking citizens to put white sheets on their houses while the government works on evacuation routes.
In the last 24 days there have been 20 air strikes across Iraq and Syria, which amounted to the deaths of at least 70 terrorists.
‘We are still early in the Fallujah fight so it’s unclear how long this battle will last,’ he added.