Iraqi Forces Continue Push Into Western Mosul

US-backed Iraqi forces continue their offensive into western Mosul as they push deeper into the so-called Islamic State’s last major stronghold.

Iraqi commanders expect the battle in western Mosul to be more hard than the east, however, in part because tanks and armoured vehicles can not pass through narrow alleyways that crisscross the city’s ancient western districts.

This was the largest displacement since an offensive began last week in a bid to oust IS from the western district.

Athbah – Iraqi forces on Friday entered a west Mosul neighbourhood for the first time since the October launch of a massive offensive to retake the city from the Islamic State group.

Iraqi commanders expect the battle to be more hard as they get closer to the old city in part because tanks and armored vehicles can not pass through its narrow alleyways.

Iraqi forces aim to secure the airport and the camp’s surrounding areas, in order to easily bring in reinforcements, Al Jazeera’s Bin Javid said, adding that “Iraqi forces realise that taking Mosul is weeks, if not months away”. “They were shooting and had tunnels under the house and explosives”, he said.

One captain in Iraq’s emergency response division told the BBC inside western Mosul: “We very close to liberating Mosul”. Iraq has thrown several elite units into the fight for Mosul, including the 9th Army division and all 14 battalions of USA -trained counterterrorism troops, but they need plenty of logistical support.

Late in January, Abadi declared the liberation of eastern Mosul, or the left bank of Tigris, after more than 100 days of fighting against IS militants.

Not only does cash “offer freedom of choice, it also allows [the recipients] to maintain their dignity”, she said.

The majority were shot and thrown into the pit, locals said. “They were shooting at us, I saw them with my own eyes”, he said. (The foreigners) said, “That’s your problem”.

A police spokesman said a Russian member of Islamic State had been captured on Wednesday near Mosul airport.

The seizure of these two major objectives gives the USA -led coalition a secure jump-off point for the next phase of their offensive to overwhelm the Islamic State fighters entrenched in the western areas of Mosul.

Several thousand militants, including many who traveled from Western countries to join up, are believed to be holed up in the city with practically nowhere to go, which could lead to a fierce standoff amid a remaining civilian population of 750,000.

When the battle for the eastern part of the city began, aid groups expected a tidal wave of residents to flee.

The 60-nation coalition dominated by the United States has carried out more than 10,000 strikes on IS targets since 2014, and recently stepped up its involvement to help Baghdad retake Mosul.

Speaking to AFP and other reporters in Baghdad this week, US Air Force Brigadier General Matt Isler said the IS group had adopted coercive new techniques in its use of suicide vehicle bombs because the jihadists appear to be running out of willing drivers. “The battle ahead will be hard and complicated because of the civilians around”.