Foreign Affairs

Eugene

(61,900 posts) Sun May 22, 2016, 05:20 PM May 2016

Falluja assault: Iraq military warns civilians before raid on IS-held city

Source: BBC

Falluja assault: Iraq military warns civilians before raid on IS-held city

22 May 2016 Middle East

Iraq's military has warned civilians to leave Falluja as it prepares an assault on the city held by the so-called Islamic State (IS).

Falluja was the first city to fall to the group in January 2014, and is one of only two of its remaining strongholds in Iraq.

Iraq's military told state television said those who could not flee should raise a white flag above their homes.

The military, police and volunteer fighters virtually surround the city.

The Baghdad-based pro-Kurdish news website Shafaq said on Sunday that close to 20,000 police troops had arrived on the outskirts of Falluja ahead of the expected assault.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

1 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Falluja assault: Iraq military warns civilians before raid on IS-held city (Original Post) Eugene May 2016 OP

Falluja assault: Iraq PM announces beginning of military operation bemildred May 2016 #1

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

1. Falluja assault: Iraq PM announces beginning of military operation

Reply to Eugene (Original post)

Sun May 22, 2016, 08:01 PM

May 2016

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of a military operation to retake Falluja from the so-called Islamic State (IS).

"Zero hour for the liberation of Falluja has arrived. The moment of great victory has drawn near and Daesh has no choice but to flee," he said.

Iraq's military has already warned civilians to leave the town.

Falluja was the first city to fall to IS in 2014 and is one of only two of its remaining strongholds in Iraq.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-36354319

Reply to this discussion