At least 40 members of Iraqi forces have been killed in a series of attacks by suicide-bombers in the northern outskirts of the city of Fallujah, Ai-Jazeera television reported on Friday.

The Iraqi Army and the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), backed by US-led coalition airstrikes, launched an offensive to retake Fallujah on May 22. Iraqi and US military officials have said they expect a fierce battle with the Daesh, which has deeply embedded itself in the city over the past two years.