BAGHDAD: Iraq’s forces will start an operation to retake the western city of Ramadi from Daesh militants very soon, army chief of staff Lt. General Othman Al-Ghanemi said on Monday.

“There is an ongoing operation to control a sector in preparation of the onslaught on the city center within the coming hours, God willing,” he said.

An Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman said earlier that Daesh militants were preventing civilians from leaving Ramadi before the planned attack on the city, which fell under control of the organization in May.

Iraqi planes on Sunday dropped leaflets on Ramadi, asking residents to leave within 72 hours and indicating safe routes for their exit.

Iraqi intelligence estimates the number of Daesh fighters that are entrenched in the center of Ramadi at between 250 and 300.