Iraqi pro-government forces advance towards the city of Fallujah on May 23 as part of a major assault to retake the city from Daesh. Supply routes were cut off by Iraqi forces and other armed groups, the United Nations said, preventing civilians from leaving. Abadi said that the plan to retake Fallujah was put into place more than two months ago but that security breaches in Baghdad had hindered the offensive. Iraqi forces have called on civilians to leave or stay home and away from Daesh headquarters. But while Iraqi forces appeared to have breached the militants’ defences on the outskirts of Fallujah, Daesh is thought to have fortified its position in the centre of the city.

Source: thestar May 23, 2016 14:33 UTC