AFP cited First Lt. Ahmed Mahdi Salih of the federal police forces participating in the battle, who said that fighting was also taking place around Garma, a town east of Fallujah which the militants are using as a supply line.
The operation is commanded by Lt. Gen. Abdul Wahab Al Saadi who pointed out that a tough terrain, the risk of civilian casualties and the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ISIS has planted in the city are obstacles to a swift victory, which is why they will begin the offensive by surrounding and bombarding ISIS positions.
The Iraqi military and federal police forces are backed by Sunni tribesmen and a coalition of Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militiamen along with US coalition air support.
The military warned Fallujah's civilians to flee if possible on Sunday ahead of the operation. This will prove difficult given the IEDs planted on the roadsides leading out of the city.
While Iraqi military and paramilitary forces have had the city encircled for over a year this is their first serious attempt to force the militants from the city.
ISIS initially captured Fallujah back in January 2014 making it the first and longest city is has controlled in Iraq.
