Air strikes decimate IS forces fleeing Iraq's Fallujah

The strikes compounded what was already a major defeat for the jihadists

Iraqi and US-led coalition aircraft decimated the Islamic State group's forces fleeing the Fallujah area, destroying hundreds of vehicles and killing dozens of jihadists, officials said.

Fallujah, a city west of Baghdad, was wrested from IS by Iraqi forces on Sunday after more than two years under the group's control.

The strikes — which the Iraqi government said took place from Wednesday to Thursday — compounded what was already a major defeat for the jihadists.

The Pentagon estimated that coalition strikes destroyed some 175 IS vehicles, while Iraq's Joint Operations Command said the country's forces destroyed 603.

Those figures could not be independently confirmed.

"Over the last two days, the Iraqi security forces and the coalition conducted strikes against two large concentrations of (IS) vehicles and fighters," Pentagon spokesman Matthew Allen said.

Allen said the coalition destroyed an estimated 55 vehicles from a convoy that gathered in areas southwest of Fallujah and a further 120 in an area northwest of the city.

"We know the Iraqi security forces destroyed more," he said.

Iraq's Joint Operations Command said the air force destroyed 96 vehicles and killed "a large group" of fighters from June 29 to 30, while army aviation destroyed 507 and killed "dozens" over the same period.

While the JOC did not provide precise figures for the number of jihadists killed in Iraqi strikes, it said coalition bombing left 349 dead.

It was not clear how the dead were counted and identified.

The defence ministry released aerial footage showing dozens of vehicles being targeted, and JOC spokesman Yahya Rasool said commandos had also seized large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

The strikes targeted massive convoys of IS vehicles including pickup trucks, minibuses and cars.

"This is a desperate attempt on the part of the terrorists to flee to their areas in Al-Qaim near the Syrian border and Tharthar," said Anbar Operations Command chief Staff Major General Ismail al-Mahalawi.