Iraqi forces attack IS in east Mosul neighbourhood

Iraqi special forces have begun a new push deeper into the northern city of Mosul, backed by airstrikes but under attack by rockets and suicide bombers from the Islamic State group, report agencies.
Troops have established a foothold in the city’s east, and drove northward Wednesday into the Tahrir neighborhood, where families left their houses to flee the fighting.
Artillery and airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition supported the advance, sending plumes of smoke into the air over the city.
Iraqi troops are converging from several fronts on Mosul, the country’s second largest city and the last major IS holdout in Iraq.  The special forces have been the tip of the spear, driving the furthest into the city itself, but they are still fighting over neighborhoods in the city’s far east.
Earlier, Iraqi forces have recaptured more than a third of eastern Mosul four weeks into the battle to retake the city from the Islamic State group, the interior ministry’s spokesman said Tuesday.
“More than a third of this (eastern) side has been liberated,” Saad Maan said at a televised news conference.
Iraqi forces launched the massive operation to retake Mosul, the last IS-held Iraqi city, on October 17, advancing towards it from the north, east and south.
Forces on the eastern front were the first to reach Mosul, and Iraq’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service has since recaptured several areas inside the city.
On the southern front, interior ministry forces are approaching Mosul airport on the city’s southern outskirts.
IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory lost to the jihadists.
In addition to Mosul, IS holds the town of Tal Afar to its west, and also still controls areas in the western province of Anbar.
Meanwhile, foreign medics are helping Iraqi special forces personnel treat a growing number of children wounded by intense urban warfare inside the jihadist-held city of Mosul.
Car bombs, sniper fire and booby traps have led to mounting casualties in the east of the city, where advancing Iraqi troops are battling Islamic State group fighters.

Iraqi forces attack IS in east Mosul neighbourhood

Iraqi special forces have begun a new push deeper into the northern city of Mosul, backed by airstrikes but under attack by rockets and suicide bombers from the Islamic State group, report agencies. Troops have established a foothold in the citys east, and drove northward Wednesday into the Tahrir neighborhood, where families left their houses to flee the fighting. Artillery and airstrikes from the U.S.-led coalition supported the advance, sending plumes of smoke into the air over the city. Iraqi troops are converging from several fronts on Mosul, the countrys second largest city and the last major IS holdout in Iraq. The special forces have been the tip of the spear, driving the furthest into the city itself, but they are still fighting over neighborhoods in the citys far east. Earlier, Iraqi forces have recaptured more than a third of eastern Mosul four weeks into the battle to retake the city from the Islamic State group, the interior ministrys spokesman said Tuesday. More than a third of this (eastern) side has been liberated, Saad Maan said at a televised news conference. Iraqi forces launched the massive operation to retake Mosul, the last IS-held Iraqi city, on October 17, advancing towards it from the north, east and south. Forces on the eastern front were the first to reach Mosul, and Iraqs elite Counter-Terrorism Service has since recaptured several areas inside the city. On the southern front, interior ministry forces are approaching Mosul airport on the citys southern outskirts. IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory lost to the jihadists. In addition to Mosul, IS holds the town of Tal Afar to its west, and also still controls areas in the western province of Anbar. Meanwhile, foreign medics are helping Iraqi special forces personnel treat a growing number of children wounded by intense urban warfare inside the jihadist-held city of Mosul. Car bombs, sniper fire and booby traps have led to mounting casualties in the east of the city, where advancing Iraqi troops are battling Islamic State group fighters.