The Heat: Iraqi forces retake Fallujah

The Heat

It was once home to 300,000 people –the center of radical Sunni Islam and the military stronghold under Saddam Hussein.

But in January 2014, Fallujah became the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State. Two and a half years later after five weeks of intense fighting – it’s back under government control.

Leaving Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, as the extremists last major hub in the country. The recapture of Fallujah is just the latest in a string of setbacks for ISIL in both Iraq and Syria.

Over the past 15 months Islamic State has lost about a quarter of its territory in both countries.

So what does it all mean for Iraq, Syria and beyond? Nathan King discusses more with CCTV’s Jack Barton.

To discuss the war against Islamic State in Iraq and beyond:

  • Mowaffak al-Rubaie, served as Iraq’s first National Security Advisor following the fall of Saddam Hussein.
  • Raed Jarrar, a frequent commentator and writer on Arab-American issues.
  • Michael O’Hanlon, the Co-Director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence and a Senior Fellow for foreign policy at Brookings.