Clashes between Iraqi tribesmen and the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Fallujah have reportedly halted after the militants detained dozens of residents.
Local official Issa Sayir estimated the number of detainees at about 60, while a lieutenant colonel and a tribal leader were quoted as saying the figure was more than 100.
"The clashes stopped because of the imbalance of power and fear that the detainees would be executed," Sayir said on February 21.
Fighting between the Sunni Arab tribesmen and IS militants in Fallujah began on February 19. There were reports of casualties on both sides.
Sayir said a military operation would be launched in the Fallujah area in the coming days, while the Iraqi Army was quoted as saying that reinforcements had arrived in the outskirts of the city, located 50 kilometers west of Baghdad.
Fallujah is one of the two major Iraqi cities controlled by the IS group, the other being Mosul.
