Iraq’s PM heralds start of military assault to liberate Fallujah from ‘despicable’ ISIS
The city which fell to the extremists in 2014 is already under heavy artillery shelling
IRAQ'S Prime Minister has announced the start of an all-out military operation to retake the fallen city of Fallujah.
Haider Al-Abadi pledged to regain control of the city minutes before his artillery began shelling the ISIS stronghold.
"By the name of God, we are here to announce the Iraqi flag will soon be flying in the sky of Fallujah," the Premier promised his people.
"We will tear down the black flags of these despicable strangers who abducted this dear city. The time has come to liberate Fallujah and the victory will be ours.
"ISIL has nowhere to go but to flee."
Earlier in the day, the army had told the residents of Fallujah to leave the area ahead of the offensive.
Families who could not leave were told to raise white flags to mark their locations.
We will tear down the black flags of these despicable strangers who abducted this dear city
Haider Al-Abadi, Iraqi PM
Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to ISIS in January 2014, six months before the group swept through large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.
The city on the Euphrates River, which is 30m west of the Bahgdad, had a pre-war population of about 300,000.
It is currently encircled by Iraqi forces and a coalition of Shia Muslim armed groups known as Hashid Shaabi.
Known as the "City of Minarets and Mother of Mosques", Fallujah is a focus for Sunni Muslim faith and identity in Iraq.
It was badly damaged in two offensives by US forces against suspected al-Qaeda fighters in 2004.
Iraqi ground troops have made gains against IS across the country, recently capturing the town of Rutba, 240 miles west of Baghdad.
However, the Islamist militants still control large patches of Iraq's north and west, including the second largest city of Mosul.
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