MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Iraqi national armed forces warned the residents of Fallujah, held by Daesh, to leave the city in an indication that preparations are underway for an offensive to reclaim it, the Iraqi Al Mada daily’s website reported Sunday.
"The people of the city of Fallujah in Anbar province, prepare to get out of the city over secure routes, which will be confirmed later."
It added in a separate piece, citing an informed source in Anbar, that senior security, police and counter-terrorism forces met east of Fallujah in likely preparation for the campaign to reclaim the city.
Fallujah, in the western Anbar province, has been under Daesh control since late 2013. Reports emerged recently that militants of the group, banned in countries including Russia, began killing residents attempting to leave the city. Daesh is suspected of planning to use the civilian population as human shields in case of an army siege.
