On Friday, U.S. military officials announced that Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. airstrikes, have captured the town of Rutba from Islamic State control. Rutba, in western Anbar Province, is a key stop on the main road from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, and kicking ISIS out will make the road usable for Iraqis again, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Sean McFarland, the top U.S. commander in Baghdad, told reporters. "Although it's a small town, it's an important success for the Iraqi security forces." U.S. officials said that airstrikes had convinced most of the hundreds of ISIS fighters to flee to Syria or the city of al-Qaim, leaving roughly 30 ISIS militants in Rutba for the Iraqi forces and Sunni tribal militia to rout.
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