Ten US soldiers and two Iraqis fighting with the Americans have been killed in an US-Iraqi offensive in the flash point city of Fallujah, Sky News quoted the US military as saying on Tuesday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Ten US soldiers and two Iraqis fighting with the Americans have been killed in an US-Iraqi offensive in the flash point city of Fallujah, Sky News quoted the US military as saying on Tuesday. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

US armored troops prepare to launch an all-out offensive on Iraq's rebel-held city of Fallujah, Nov. 9. The US Marines backed by Iraqi forces entered the centre of the city. This is the second large-scale assault they have launched on Fallujah within the last seven months. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

US soldiers make preparations before attacking Iraq's rebel-held city of Fallujah, Nov. 9. US forces, backed by Iraqi troops, kicked off an all-out offensive on Iraq's rebel-held city of Fallujah Monday evening just after Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi signaled the green light to US-Iraqi forces to neutralize insurgents in Fallujah. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

On the outskirts of Iraqi city of Fallujah, US forces and Iraqi troops march towards Fallujah city, Nov. 9. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A US helicopter lands on a clearing near Fallujah railway station, Nov. 9. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A US soldier opens fire during fierce battles in the Iraqi city of Fallujah on November 8. US forces, backed by Iraqi troops, kicked off an all-out offensive on Iraq's rebel-held city of Fallujah Monday evening. (Xinhua Photo)

The night sky of Iraqi city of Fallujah is lightened by gunfire on November 9. (Xinhua Photo)

    CAIRO, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Ten US soldiers and two Iraqis fighting with the Americans have been killed in an US-Iraqi offensive in the flash point city of Fallujah, Sky News quoted the US military as saying on Tuesday.

    On Monday, US Marines, backed by Iraqi troops, started theoffensive in a bid to regain the control of the rebel-held city aspart of the government's efforts to pacify security situation aheadof the January elections

    Fierce battles continued on Tuesday as the US-Iraqi forcesthrust into Fallujah. The US Marines, backed by Iraqi forces,raided downtown Fallujah from the northwestern Jolan district andal-Mualemeen district in the east, said witnesses.

    On Tuesday, US planes bombed a government clinic in the centerof Fallujah, causing dozens of casualties. Enditem