Iraqi forces take Fallujah hospital

BAGHDAD, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Iraqi special forces seized Fallujah's main hospital Sunday in what Pentagon officials described as the first step of the offensive to retake the city.

However, it was still unclear Sunday when the main assault into the city would begin, CNN reported.

The 36th Iraqi Commando Battalion took the hospital -- on the western edge of the city -- without any deadly force.

Pentagon officials said taking the hospital was one of the initial objectives of the planned offensive, but they would not say whether U.S. and Iraqi forces would push into the city in the coming hours.

U.S. and Iraqi forces have been trying to stabilize the nation in anticipation of January's national elections.