The "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) is beginning to "collapse and lose everything", as Iraqi forces tighten the noose on its elements in various areas of Anbar province, Minister of Defence Khaled al-Obaidi announced Thursday (June 2nd).

"Security forces have inflicted heavy losses on the terrorist group, killing 200 ISIL members in Kubaysa and Heet in the last few days and draining the group’s human capabilities," al-Obaidi said in a statement.

"ISIL is trying to pressure our sectors from several fronts, and this is a clear indicator that it is taking its last breaths after it was encircled by our armed forces in Fallujah," he said.

"The army has taken fortified positions and made the necessary preparations to repel any attack by the terrorists in our operations sectors," he added.

On Thursday, Iraqi forces liberated the villages of Albu Youssef, Albu Aifan and other small villages and districts south of Fallujah, Fallujah operations commander Lt. Maj. Abdul Wahab al-Saadi said.

"Our forces also liberated al-Shohada neighbourhood and the residential complex in al-Saqlawiya, north of Fallujah," he added.

Dozens of ISIL gunmen are killed every day in the battles, he said, praising the support provided to the Iraqi army by the international coalition.

"The date of achieving victory is not important," he said. "Our main concern is to preserve the lives of civilians besieged by ISIL."