A spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command has told CCTV that Iraqi forces will launch a final assault to liberate the Islamic State-occupied Fallujah in the coming days. The official said 16 days after the military operation began, joint troops have besieged the city close to the west of Baghdad, preparing for a final attack.

But progress was slowed since the security forces need to conduct de-mining and rescue trapped civilians. Close to twenty thousand people have fled the outlying areas, but very few have been able to slip out of the city center, where ISIL is using them as human shields.