Iraqi forces clash with Islamic State near Falluja, bombard city centre

By Ahmed Rasheed and Stephen Kalin BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi government forces fought Islamic State militants near Falluja on Monday and bombarded central districts at the outset of an offensive to retake the longtime jihadist stronghold on the western approaches to the capital Baghdad. Some of the first direct clashes occurred in al-Hayakil area on Falluja's southern outskirts, a resident said. Air strikes and mortar salvoes overnight targeted neighbourhoods inside the city proper where Islamic