ANBAR, Iraq

 At least 12 civilians were killed and 28 others were injured in an alleged Iraqi air force strike in Anbar province’s Fallujah city, a local tribal chief told Anadolu Agency.

The airstrike targeted a residential area and local markets in the city, Sheikh Abu Mohammed al-Delimi said.

“Iraqi army war planes dropped five barrel bombs on Fallujah city on homes of civilians and local markets, leaving 12 people dead and 28 others injured, including children and women,” al-Delimi said.

“The barrel bombs caused severe damage in the area and destroyed 15 homes, an apartment building and a number of shops,” he said.

“Later, Iraqi forces shelled the al-Hajj Shaker al-Dahi mosque in central Fallujah which left a large part of the mosque destroyed and a number of shops,” he added.

A medical source in Fallujah General Hospital said that the emergency department received 12 bodies, including three children and two women. Also, 28 injured, including eight children and five women, were brought to the hospital.

On Sunday, Iraqi forces repelled five suicide car bomb attacks on a military base in Nazem al-Taksim in the north of Fallujah.

Iraqi forces, backed by the Shia militia al-Hashd al-Shaabi, launched a military operation Tuesday against Daesh to retake Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province.