Iraqi army prepares for ‘final assault’ to retake Fallujah from ISIS as jihadists continue to hold 50,000 civilians hostage amid fierce fighting
Iraqi army is on the verge of launching final offensive on the besieged city
Troop build-up completed around city with last battalion arriving at dawn
Coalition spokesman Steve Warren accused ISIS of using human shields
The ground forces are being supported by US-led coalition airstrikes
By JULIAN ROBINSON and DARREN BOYLE
DailyMail.com
29 May 2016
The Iraqi army is preparing for a final assault to retake Fallujah from ISIS as jihadists continue to hold 50,000 civilians hostage amid fierce fighting.
Hundreds of residents have fled the extremist stronghold with Iraqi forces surrounding the city and on the verge of launching a new offensive today.
A troop build-up has been completed around Fallujah with the last battalion having arrived at dawn today at the sprawling Tariq Camp.
Major Dhia Thamir, of the Special Forces Service, said troops have recaptured 80 percent of the territory around the city since the operation began a week ago.
He declined to reveal the exact timing of the expected assault.
But the overall commander of the Fallujah operation, Abdelwahab al-Saadi, said Saturday it was a matter of hours before the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) entered the city.
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