Iraqi battle seen as key victory in Iran
The battle in Jurf al-Sakhar was portrayed by a number of conservative Iranian media outlets as key to forcing the Islamic State into retreat and eventually taking back Anbar province.
![Shi'ite fighters pose with a black flag belonging to the Islamic State, which they pulled down after capturing the town of Jurf al-Sakhar from the Islamic State militants, south of Baghdad Shi'ite fighters pose with a black flag belonging to the Islamic State, which they pulled down after capturing the town of Jurf al-Sakhar from the Islamic State militants, south of Baghdad October 26, 2014. Picture taken October 26, 2014. REUTERS/Stringer (IRAQ - Tags: MILITARY POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) - RTR4BQ6H](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2014/10/RTR4BQ6H.jpg/RTR4BQ6H.jpg?h=f7822858&itok=iK39tGSJ)
The victory of the Iraqi armed forces and militias aligned with the government over Islamic State (IS) militants in the Sunni town of Jurf al-Sakhar has been hailed as an important one by a number of conservative Iranian news outlets.
The battle for the strategic city south of Baghdad is significant in that control of Jurf al-Sakhar will enable the Iraqi army to cut off IS from its strongholds in Anbar province. The city was won solely by Iraqi forces without coalition air power, and set the blueprint for the next battle between the Iraqi army and IS in the strategic cities of Amiriya and Fallujah.