Iraqi special forces have built up their presence around Fallujah ahead of an operation to retake the city from Islamic State militants. An officer said the last battalion arrived at dawn on Sunday at the Tariq Camp outside Fallujah.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi said this phase of the campaign will last less than 48 hours. After which, troops will move in to recapture the city.

Residents were asked to leave or stay indoor. More than 50,000 people are thought to be still in the city centre. Fallujah is one of the last major strongholds of ISIL in Iraq. Earlier, ISIL militants attacked a newly liberated town to the west of capital Baghdad.