This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-36354319

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Falluja assault: Iraq PM announces start of operation against IS Falluja assault: Iraqi military moves against IS
(about 2 hours later)
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of a military operation to retake Falluja from so-called Islamic State (IS). Clashes have been reported near the Iraqi city of Falluja hours after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of a military operation to retake it from so-called Islamic State (IS).
"Zero hour for the liberation of Falluja has arrived. The moment of great victory has drawn near," he said, adding IS had "no choice but to flee". One report said the IS "governor" in Falluja had been killed, while the jihadist group said it had inflicted casualties on government forces.
Both IS and Iraqi media have reported fighting and claimed there are casualties on both sides. "Zero hour for the liberation of Falluja has arrived," Mr al-Abadi said.
Falluja was the first city to fall to IS in 2014. It also controls Mosul. Falluja has been held by IS longer than any other in Iraq or Syria.
The Iraqi government has urged civilians, estimated at between 60,000 and 90,000, to flee. The Iraqi government has urged civilians there - estimated to number between 60,000 and 90,000 - to flee or raise a white flag over their homes.
The Iraqi military told state TV that those who could not leave should raise a white flag above their homes.The Iraqi military told state TV that those who could not leave should raise a white flag above their homes.
Iraqi officials say corridors will be provided for civilians to make their way to camps outside the city. Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Baghdad
In the latest fighting, Iraqi TV said IS's "governor" in Falluja, Hejji Hamza, and some of his aides had been killed. Government-backed al-Iraqia TV spoke of more than 30 IS fighters being killed outside the city. Falluja has been attacked many times and bombed and shelled almost incessantly since it fell into the militants' hands in January 2014. It has withstood all that, despite huge destruction and many casualties.
Government forces are reported to have carried out air strikes and mortar attacks overnight. Now the government has committed itself to "liberating" the city once and for all, in an operation codenamed "Break Terrorism".
IS, via its self-styled Amaq news agency, said one of its suicide bombers had destroyed a tank and army bulldozer, killing 16 people. But there are conflicting assessments of how tough the battle will be.
The military, police and volunteer fighters virtually surround the city, about 65 km (40 miles) west of Baghdad. Some believe that IS has taken such a pounding in the town that its ability to resist has been sapped. Others, in touch with sources inside the beleaguered city, say the militants have long been preparing to face such an offensive and have deployed their full array of defences, including many roadside bombs and booby traps.
How tough will it be to recapture Falluja from IS?
Iraqi officials say corridors will be provided for civilians to make their way to camps outside the city, which was seized by IS militants and allied Sunni tribesmen in January 2014.
Iraqi TV said the IS wali, or "governor", in Falluja, Hejji Hamza, and some of his aides had been killed in the latest fighting. There were also reports of more than 30 IS fighters being killed outside the city.
Residents said air strikes and mortar attacks occurred overnight.
The IS-linked Amaq news agency said one of the group's suicide bombers had destroyed a tank and army bulldozer, killing 16 people.
Troops, police, militiamen and tribal fighters virtually surround the city, about 65 km (40 miles) west of Baghdad.
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.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.
Islamic State group: The full story
Islamic State crisis in seven charts
IS militants launched a sweeping offensive in June 2014, overrunning large areas north and west of Baghdad. However, security forces and allied fighters have pushed the jihadists back with support from US-led air strikes.IS militants launched a sweeping offensive in June 2014, overrunning large areas north and west of Baghdad. However, security forces and allied fighters have pushed the jihadists back with support from US-led air strikes.
Iraq's military seized the nearby city of Ramadi from Islamic State in December. Iraq's military recaptured the nearby city of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, from IS in December.
A former US ambassador to Iraq predicted the Falluja operation would take some time.A former US ambassador to Iraq predicted the Falluja operation would take some time.
"I think Haider al-Abadi has taken the advice of many of his American advisers, which was not to rush into this thing," Christopher Hill told BBC Radio 5 live. "I think Haider al-Abadi has taken the advice of many of his American advisers, which was not to rush into this thing," Christopher Hill told the BBC.
"So they're being very deliberate, very careful, and so I think there's some good reason for optimism that ultimately this will be successful.""So they're being very deliberate, very careful, and so I think there's some good reason for optimism that ultimately this will be successful."
Analysis: Jim Muir, BBC News, Baghdad
The Iraqi army, police and irregular forces virtually surround Falluja and have been heavily reinforced in preparation for an assault on several fronts that military sources say could last two or three weeks.
That may be optimistic, given the many weeks it took earlier this year to take full control of Ramadi, another city further to the west.
Falluja has been held by the militants of IS much longer, for nearly two-and-a-half years, and has withstood a massive battering by government shelling and bombing.
But Iraqi military sources believe the number of militants there has been cut roughly in half and that the battle for Falluja will be a lot less tough than it was for Ramadi.
A former US military adviser in Iraq, Michael Pregent, questioned the wisdom of urging civilians to raise white flags.A former US military adviser in Iraq, Michael Pregent, questioned the wisdom of urging civilians to raise white flags.
"The problem with them [the Iraqi military] saying, 'raise a white flag so we don't shoot you' - IS is going to shoot them when they raise a white flag," he told BBC News. "The problem with them [the Iraqi military] saying, 'raise a white flag so we don't shoot you' - IS is going to shoot them when they raise a white flag."
Should IS lose Falluja, it would leave the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, as its only Iraqi stronghold. It continues to hold large parts of territory in neighbouring Syria, though that too is shrinking. Should IS lose Falluja, it would leave the northern city of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, as its only stronghold in Iraq. It continues to control large parts of Syria, including the city of Raqqa.
Last month, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned civilians still living in Falluja were in danger of starvation.Last month, the United Nations and Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned civilians still living in Falluja were in danger of starvation.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said stocks were dwindling as government forces trying to recapture the city had cut supply routes, and IS had stopped people from leaving.The UN World Food Programme (WFP) said stocks were dwindling as government forces trying to recapture the city had cut supply routes, and IS had stopped people from leaving.
Some residents were eating grass to survive, HRW said.Some residents were eating grass to survive, HRW said.
One report in Vox.com said that a 110lb (50kg) bag of flour, which costs about $7.50 in the US, had been sold for as much as $4,166 (£2,925; €3,650). One report said that a 110lb (50kg) bag of flour, which costs about $7.50 in the US, had been sold for as much as $4,166 (£2,925; €3,650).