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Islamic State Loses Fallujah to Iraqi Security Forces

The loss of Fallujah shows that the group's utopian ideology falls flat in practice. Though clearing the city of remaining fighters could take weeks, the defeat is a huge symbolic loss for the jihadist group and a major victory for the forces trying to discredit and destroy it.

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After over a month of fighting, the Iraqi government has at last reclaimed the city of Fallujah from the Islamic State's grasp. Clearing the city of any remaining fighters could take weeks, and removing the booby traps left behind will almost certainly take months. Nevertheless, the June 26 defeat is a huge symbolic loss for the jihadist group and a significant victory for the forces trying to discredit and destroy it.

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