After Iraqi forces took full control of the Islamic State group's bastion of Fallujah, what's next in the battles against the extremists, not just in Iraq but in Syria and further afield?
The loss of Fallujah is the latest in a series of defeats shrinking the "caliphate" that the group proclaimed two years ago over the vast areas it conquered in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
What is the next big battle in Iraq?
Fallujah was one of only two major cities IS still held in Iraq and the security forces are now training their sights on Mosul, whose fall commanders and analysts believe would spell doom for the caliphate in Iraq.
The battle for the northern city will have different contours than previous ones, with an ever greater variety of forces than usual potentially involved in operations and staking their claim in a post-IS Mosul.
Operations aimed at retaking Mosul began months ago, with an offensive moving up the Tigris from the south and another led by Kurdish forces moving from the east, but the battle appears far from starting in earnest.
What else does IS control in Iraq?
After losing Fallujah and surrounding areas, the Iraqi half of IS's "caliphate" looks increasingly fragmented, with limited territorial contiguity between some its remaining bastions.
IS has lost the major towns and cities of Anbar but still controls the far west of the vast province, including the town of Al-Qaim near the Syrian border.
The extremists also have fixed positions in the Hamreen mountain range north of Baghdad as well as further north around Hawijah.
To the west of Mosul, IS also still holds Tal Afar, a city which was one of the first that the group took when it swept into Iraq just over two years ago.
Where are IS falling back in Syria?
On May 31, a US-backed Kurdish-Arab alliance launched a vast offensive to retake the IS stronghold on Manbij in north Syria, which lies on a key supply route for the jihadists from the Turkish border.
In around 10 days, the Syrian Democratic Forces -- who are supported by air strikes from a US-led coalition -- surrounded the city, cutting off the supply line to the extremist group's de-facto capital of Raqa city.
SDF forces have since entered the city and are edging slowly towards its centre, as IS puts up fierce resistance with suicide bombers and car bombs.
If the extremists lost Manbij, it would be their second most serious defeat since emerging in the chaos of Syria's civil war, after regime forces retook the ancient city of Palmyra from them in late March.
Is Raqa under threat?
Since late May, IS has faced two offensives in the northern province of Raqa, which the extremist group has controlled since 2014.
The SDF launched an advance from the north on May 31, but soon headed west towards Manbij in neighbouring Aleppo province.
And Russia-backed regime forces led an offensive into the province from the southwest, advancing towards the IS-held town of Tabqa. But suicide bombers drove Syrian regime troops out of the province in a lightning counter-attack last week.
Experts have said the troops backing President Bashar al-Assad in the offensive were probably not elite forces and too few to make gains in the desert area.
The provincial capital of Raqa remains the main strategic and symbolic goal for anti-IS forces, but analysts say that the extremist group's strong defences in the city mean it is unlikely to fall soon.
Can IS hold on to Sirte in Libya?
Since mid-May, Libyan pro-government forces have pressed an offensive to retake Sirte, a coastal city east of the capital Tripoli that has been under IS control since last June.
On June 9, forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) entered Sirte, which is the only main city held by the extremist group in Libya.
They have pushed the extremists into a residential zone of just five square kilometres (two square miles) inside the city, but IS has hit back with suicide car bombs and sniper fire.
AFP
Mon Jun 27 2016
![After Fallujah, what's next in the battle against IS? After Fallujah, what's next in the battle against IS?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-09/71443625429_IslamicState.jpg)
Iraqi Shiite men who have volunteered to join government forces and militias in the fight against jihadists from the Islamic State group, take part in a training session in the central city of Hillah on Oct 18, 2014. - AFP Photo/Files
![Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723715377_TBJapan.jpg)
Jepun tamatkan amaran gempa bumi mega
Jepun pada Khamis menamatkan nasihat risiko gempa bumi dengan magnitud yang lebih tinggi daripada biasa, seminggu selepas gegaran kuat di dasar laut Palung Nankai.
![Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723715171_TBIPDSentul.jpg)
Tular rakaman CCTV, suspek pecah rumah di Sentul ditahan
Polis menahan seorang lelaki dipercayai terlibat dalam sembilan kes pecah rumah di Residensi Sky Awani 1 dan 2 di Sentul.
!['Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso 'Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723710107_TBFAhmi.jpg)
'Stringer' raih banyak faedah sekiranya mencarum dengan Perkeso
Pengamal media sambilan yang mencarum dengan Perkeso akan dilindungi dan menerima banyak faedah sekiranya berlaku kemalangan ketika menjalankan tugas.
![Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723715159_jeddahkandasawani.jpg)
Jemaah umrah terkandas di lapangan terbang Jeddah mahu penjelasan MAS
Beberapa penumpang menunggu lebih 24 jam untuk mendapatkan penjelasan lanjut daripada pengurusan MAB namun terus hampa.
![Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723712785_AnwarIbrahim.jpg)
Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu tingkat kepantasan beri kelulusan untuk tarik pelabur - PM Anwar
Kerajaan Persekutuan, negeri perlu meningkatkan kepantasan dalam memberi kelulusanbagi menjadikan Malaysia tumpuan pelabur.
![Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723712690_kemalangantrelerP.jpg)
Pemandu maut lori terbalik, kesesakan 2 jam di Lebuhraya PLUS Ipoh-Kuala Kangsar
Seorang pemandu lori maut manakala kelindan cedera selepas kenderaan yang mereka naiki terbabas lalu terbalik di Kilometer 257 Lebuhraya PLUS arah utara, dekat sini, petang ini.
RADIO 360: Integrasi teknologi kumpul maklumat pendengar, data lebih komprehensif
RADIO 360 Malaysia merentasi 11 stesen radio Astro yang boleh diakses di aplikasi SYOK termasuk Era, Sinar, Gegar, Hitz, Mix, My dan Raaga.
![Tindakan Faisal Halim undang rasa sebak penyokong bola sepak Tindakan Faisal Halim undang rasa sebak penyokong bola sepak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723706908_TBFaisalHalim.jpg)
Tindakan Faisal Halim undang rasa sebak penyokong bola sepak
Tindakan bintang Selangor FC, Faisal Halim yang bertemu pemain Sabah FC ketika perlawanan Liga Super minggu ke-9 mengundang rasa sebak.
![KPDN fokus pengantarabangsaan produk tempatan ke empat negara - Armizan KPDN fokus pengantarabangsaan produk tempatan ke empat negara - Armizan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723712231_LotusKPDNKBBM.jpg)
KPDN fokus pengantarabangsaan produk tempatan ke empat negara - Armizan
KPDN menyasarkan penembusan produk buatan Malaysia di pasaran antarabangsa dengan kerjasama beberapa rangkaian pasar raya besar luar negara.
Ekonomi Gig: Persediaan awal belia ke arah pekerjaan stabil
Menurut Pensyarah, Asia Pacific University (Apu), Dr Nor Azrul Mohd Zin, platform ini memberi peluang kepada belia untuk menimba ilmu, mempelajari pelbagai kemahiran dan memperoleh pendapatan sementara menunggu peluang pekerjaan yang lebih stabil.
![Pekerja kilang didakwa miliki bahan berkaitan kumpulan Daesh Pekerja kilang didakwa miliki bahan berkaitan kumpulan Daesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719463761_TBMahkamahSesyen.jpg)
Pekerja kilang didakwa miliki bahan berkaitan kumpulan Daesh
Seorang pekerja kilang dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen Kota Tinggi atas dua pertuduhan memiliki bahan berkaitan kumpulan pengganas Daesh.
![Ancaman Daesh: Pasukan keselamatan sentiasa siap sedia - Saifuddin Ancaman Daesh: Pasukan keselamatan sentiasa siap sedia - Saifuddin](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81719398317_tbSaifuddinNasution.jpg)
Ancaman Daesh: Pasukan keselamatan sentiasa siap sedia - Saifuddin
Pasukan keselamatan negara sentiasa dalam keadaan siap siaga dalam menangani sebarang ancaman terutamanya melibatkan elemen kumpulan ekstremis Daesh.
![Pekerja restoran didakwa sokong, mengaku ahli kumpulan Daesh Pekerja restoran didakwa sokong, mengaku ahli kumpulan Daesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41719299108_MuhammadMuzzammilM.jpg)
Pekerja restoran didakwa sokong, mengaku ahli kumpulan Daesh
Seorang pekerja restoran dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen atas pertuduhan berkaitan kumpulan Daesh, iaitu memberi sokongan, memiliki artikel dan video, dan mengaku menjadi ahli.
![Tiga termasuk suami isteri didakwa sokong, miliki bahan pengganas IS Tiga termasuk suami isteri didakwa sokong, miliki bahan pengganas IS](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719293418_tbsuamiisteri.jpg)
Tiga termasuk suami isteri didakwa sokong, miliki bahan pengganas IS
Tiga individu termasuk sepasang suami isteri dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen pada Selasa atas pertuduhan menyokong dan memiliki bahan berkaitan kumpulan pengganas Islamic State (IS).
![Bekas pensyarah antara lapan ditahan disyaki terlibat Daesh Bekas pensyarah antara lapan ditahan disyaki terlibat Daesh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61719222300_TBSaifuddinNasution.jpg)
Bekas pensyarah antara lapan ditahan disyaki terlibat Daesh
Seorang bekas pensyarah antara lapan yang ditahan kerana dipercayai terlibat dengan ideologi kumpulan pengganas Daesh.
![Syria gempur kedudukan Daesh dengan sokongan Rusia Syria gempur kedudukan Daesh dengan sokongan Rusia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718020878_SyrianDemocraticFo.jpg)
Syria gempur kedudukan Daesh dengan sokongan Rusia
Tentera Syria dan kumpulan pengganas Daesh sekali lagi bertempur dalam serangan paling hebat dilaporkan di tengah Syria, lapor Agensi Berita Iran (IRNA).
![Daesh mengaku tanggungjawab letupan di Filipina Daesh mengaku tanggungjawab letupan di Filipina](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/71701644566_TBPHILIPINEEXPLOSION.jpg)
Daesh mengaku tanggungjawab letupan di Filipina
Militan Daesh yang mempunyai pengaruh di selatan negara itu, mengesahkan menerusi Telegram, anggotanya telah meletupkan bom tersebut.
![3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa 3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-01/61674803551_TBpakistan.jpg)
3 jalani hukuman gantung di Iraq terlibat pengeboman Daesh ragut 300 nyawa
Perdana Menteri Iraq Mohammed al-Soudani menyifatkan hukuman itu "adil" semasa pertemuan dengan keluarga mangsa.
![Empat terbunuh dalam serangan di masjid di Iran Empat terbunuh dalam serangan di masjid di Iran](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61691992088_attackIran.jpg)
Empat terbunuh dalam serangan di masjid di Iran
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang terbunuh selepas dua lelaki bersenjata menyerang masjid Shah Cheragh di Shiraz, lapor Agensi Berita Jerman (dpa) memetik media Iran pada Ahad.
![KKD beri perhatian bendung penyebaran ekstremis militan KKD beri perhatian bendung penyebaran ekstremis militan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-11/41637558595_MOUSE.jpg)
KKD beri perhatian bendung penyebaran ekstremis militan
Fahmi Fadzil berkata ia supaya penyebarannya tidak terus berleluasa mempengaruhi umat Islam dalam negara.