BAGHDAD: Iraqi government forces cleared mines and explosives left behind by the Islamic State(IS) in recently recaptured areas of Fallujah, as fighting continued in other parts of the city yesterday, an Iraqi military official said Military operations were ongoing in Fal lujah, with the air force hitting targets in the city including IS snipers positioned near the main hospital, Brig Haider al-Obeidi said Troops were advancing toward the hos pital cautiously, concerned that militants stationed there may use patients as human shields, he said.Mr Obeidi's comments came a day after Iraqi special forces swept into Fallu jah, recapturing most of the city as the IS's two-year-old grip crumbled after weeks of fighting. The Fallujah offensive began in late May, and the IS's defences in much of the city collapsed abruptly. On Friday, Mr Obeidi said that Iraqi troops controlled 80% of the city, with IS fighters concentrated in four districts on its northern edge. It was a major step toward removing the IS from its last major foot- hold in Iraq's western Anbar province, the heartland of the country's Sunni minority Should Fallujah be declared fully recap- tured, this would leave the city of Mosul Iraq's second largest as the IS's only remaining urban stronghold in the countryThe militants overran Fallujah in early 2014, the first major town to fall into IS hands before it overran most ofAnbar and much of northern Iraq. Iraqi troops have been advancing under the cover of airstrikes by the US-led coa- lition and Iraq's air force. The operation inside the city of Fallujah was being con- ducted by the Iraqi army, regional and federal police forces as well as special anti-terrorism units. Shia militias known as the Popular Mobilisation Force were outside Fallujah and have not taken part in the recent battles.