Iraq’s Fallujah offensive against ISIS has temporary ground to a halt as 50,000 people, including 20,000 children, were feared to be trapped inside the city and running out of supplies.
The delay was announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Wednesday as the military fears for the safety of the trapped civilians, who have a limited supply of food, water, and healthcare.
In footage broadcast on state television, Abadi told military commanders in the operations room near the frontline: “It would have been possible to end the battle quickly if protecting civilians wasn’t among our priorities... Thank God, our units are at the outskirts of Fallujah and victory is within reach.”