Statement from Secretary Carter on Fallujah
June 27, 2016

I congratulate Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and the Iraqi people for their progress in freeing the city of Fallujah from the grip of ISIL. The United States military and our coalition partners are proud to have supported the Iraqi Security Forces under the prime minister’s command in this important operation, which is another milestone in our joint efforts to accelerate ISIL’s defeat, and to continue supporting our Iraqi partners moving forward.

The operation in Fallujah has been a significant challenge for the ISF and for the coalition. It will not be the last. Hard fighting remains ahead, as does the vital task of caring for the residents of Fallujah displaced by ISIL’s violence and beginning to rebuild the city so that its people may safely return. It is also essential to complete the investigations the government of Iraq has launched to address alleged abuses of civilians. Despite the hard work still to do, the clearing of Fallujah will make the people of Iraq safer and bring us all one step closer to dealing ISIL a lasting defeat.