Iraqi forces launch ‘new phase’ in operation to retake west Mosul from Islamic State
IS has used civilians as human shields as part of its defence tactics and killed residents attempting to flee
Iraqi forces launched an offensive on jihadists defending Mosul’s west bank on Sunday, in what could be the most brutal fighting yet in a four-month-old operation on the city.
“Our forces are beginning the liberation of the citizens from the terror of Daesh,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said in a short televised speech, using an Arabic acronym Islamic State (IS).
“We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul,” he said, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.
Federal police and interior ministry forces were expected to start the new phase in the offensive by moving on Mosul airport, which is on the southern edge of the city, west of the Tigris River.
We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul
The jihadists have put up stiff resistance to defend Mosul, their last major stronghold in Iraq and the place where their leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014.