Iraqi forces to launch offensive to reclaim Fallujah

Iraqi security forces are preparing an offensive to take control of the city of Fallujah after months of being under the control of militant groups, a security source said Tuesday.

The security forces are preparing to launch operations in the town of Garma, east of Fallujah, some 50 km west of Iraq's capital Baghdad, and areas of Duwylieba and Jurf al-Sakhar in southwest of the capital, Xinhua reported.

A security source in Anbar province confirmed that the troops will launch a massive attack from several directions to reclaim Fallujah in the coming days after clearing the surrounding areas from the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) fighters.

Army troops backed by tanks and helicopters clashed with militant groups Tuesday in the villages of Falahat, Halabsa and Albu-Alawan in west of Fallujah, leaving eight militants dead, the provincial source said.

Clashes between the troops and militants in Fallujah continued Tuesday as fierce clashes erupted Tuesday morning in the northern and southern edges of the city, the source added.