BAGHDAD: The Iraqi military will use a medieval tactic to keep control of Fallujah after recapturing it from the Islamic State group last month: It is digging a trench around the city.
The trench will have a single opening for residents to move in and out of the city, which is virtually empty since the offensive that defeated the IS militants, said Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, deputy commander of the counterterrorism forces that led the successful campaign.
It will be about 7 miles (11 kilometers) long and “will protect the city’s residents, who have lived through many tragedies, as well as security forces deployed there,” al-Saadi said in an interview with The Associated Press at his Baghdad headquarters.
Cutting off all roads but one will allow authorities to monitor the movements of residents more closely.Fallujah has been a source of car bombs used against Baghdad, which is 40 miles (65 kilometers) to the east. Restricting traffic will be one way to try to stop any explosives-laden vehicles from leaving the city.
Besides the trench, more modern security measures also will be used.
Personal details of the estimated 85,000 residents who fled during the May-June battle to liberate the city will be stored electronically, and forgery-proof ID cards will be issued, according to Mayor Issa al-Issawi. Cars owned by residents also will be issued display badges containing electronic chips.
The trenches will be about 40 feet (12.5 meters) wide and 5 feet (1.5 meters) deep.
Work has begun on the first leg, running about 4 miles (6 kilometers) on the north and northwest side of the city, al-Issawi told the AP. Digging the second leg, which runs 3 miles (5 kilometers) along the south and southeast, will begin soon, he said.
The western edge of Fallujah abuts the Euphrates River, providing a natural barrier.
(Sourced from agencies, Feature image courtesy:AP)
