Iraqi forces ENTER Fallujah: Fierce fighting rages after troops storm ISIS bastion on three fronts amid fears jihadis will use 50,000 hostages as human shields
Hundreds of troops backed by tanks, artillery and coalition air strikes flooded into ISIS stronghold at 4am local time
Iraqi commander said his troops were facing ‘resistance’ from ISIS militants as they entered city in three directions
Marks new phase of urban warfare in a city where US forces fought their toughest battles since Vietnam War in 2004
By SIMON TOMLINSON
DailyMail.com
30 May 2016
Iraqi forces continues to push into Fallujah today in a final assault to retake the city where 50,000 civilians are being held hostage by ISIS.
The advance is part of an offensive to rout the militants from the key city west of Baghdad which has been held by the terror group for over two years.
Troops backed by coalition air strikes, artillery and tanks stormed the terror group’s bastion on three fronts in a massive offensive, but were met with a ‘fierce’ response from ISIS militants who deployed snipers and fired mortars.
Counter-terrorism service (CTS) forces also joined the operation, marking the start of a phase of urban combat in a city where US forces in 2004 fought some of their toughest battles since the Vietnam War.
This battle is also likely to be a protracted one, with Iraqi forces advancing slowly to minimise civilian casualties amid fears ISIS will use hostages as human shields.
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