IN PICTURES: Iraqi and coalition forces battle ISIS to take back major stronghold
IRAQ'S army and coalition forces advanced towards a major Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold in a bid to claim the city back from the crazed jihadis.
Iraqi pro-government forces make their way towards Fallujah
The military launched the major assault this afternoon and warned residents to leave the area as they attempted to reclaim the Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Special forces, soldiers, police and pro-government tribesmen alongside the US military took part in the operation.
Iraq's prime minister Haider al Abadi said: “Zero hour for the liberation of Fallujah has arrived.
The moment of great victory has drawn near and Daesh has no choice but to flee
"The moment of great victory has drawn near and Daesh has no choice but to flee.”
The US conducted a drone strike against ISIS near the city, destroying three bunkers, two tunnel entrances and weapons.
Fallujah, which is 30 miles west of Baghdad, was the scene of many deadly battles during the US occupation of Iraq.
Iraqi forces warned residents to leave the city
Heavy shelling has reportedly killed six civilians and 14 Iraqi soldiers
It is one of the toughest targets yet in Baghdad's war on the terror group.
The military warned residents to prepare to leave the city, 30 miles from Baghdad, before fighting began – telling families who could not leave to raise white flags to mark their location.
Local media claims six civilians and 14 Iraqi soldiers have been killed on the outskirts of Fallujah as the city is hit by heavy shelling.
Special forces, soldiers, police and pro-government tribesmen are leading the assault
A member of the Iraqi pro-government forces gestures during the advance towards Fallujah
ISIS has reportedly stopped residents from leaving the city for months after they first took it in January 2014 as they swept through Iraq and Syria.
Police have surrounded the city since last year and residents have suffered food and medicine shortages as a result of the siege.
The operation comes as the war on ISIS continues.
The US Combined Joint Task Force carried out a wave of attacks in Iraq and Syria today.
Seven strikes near four cities in Syria hit two tactical units, a weapons storage facility and destroyed two vehicles, a rocket rail, an improvised explosives facility and an oil pump-jack.
In Iraq, 10 strikes near four other cities hit a communications control centre, suppressed a heavy machine gun position and destroyed a weapons factory.