Massive sandstorm engulfs city of Fallujah as Iraqi Army announce Anbar offensive - video

Scientists predict that in 10 years Iraq could experience up to 300 hundred a year

Sandstorm in Fallujah

A massive sandstorm swept through Iraq’s Anbar province on Tuesday leaving the city of Fallujah in darkness.

The large body of sand clogged the city’s streets and caused dozens of the its residents to be hospitalised with respiratory problems.

In amateur footage, the giant cloud of sand and dirt can be seen engulfing the city.

The latest sandstorm came as the Iraqi military announced a major operation in Anbar province to try and drive out Isis forces from the area.

The offensive was launched on Tuesday and is aimed at liberating Iraq’s Anbar and Salaheddin provinces.

However, this has been slowed down by the sandstorms.

The attack killed 17 Iraqi soldiers and the Iraqi Army was only recently able to claim the water station back.

The sandstorm in Iraq was said to be so powerful that the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh was also affected.