Story highlights Iraqi troops advance on other neighborhoods as ISIS militants abandon positions

Reports say government-allied militias are abusing and killing those fleeing Falluja

(CNN) Iraqi security forces have recaptured their first neighborhood in ISIS-held Falluja, the military announced Wednesday, in the wake of U.N. warnings that fleeing civilians faced a threat from government-allied militias.

Iraq military spokesman Col. Mohammed Ibrahim told CNN that the neighborhood of al-Shuhada al-Thaniya in southern Falluja had been liberated, and Iraq's flag was now flying over a government building in the area.

He said the operation to free the neighborhood had taken more than 48 hours as soldiers removed mines and explosives that ISIS left in its wake.

Troops are advancing on other neighborhoods as ISIS militants abandon their positions. Falluja, 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Baghdad, became the first Iraqi city to be captured by the Sunni terror group when it fell in 2014.

Threat from militias

Read More