Iraqi Forces Launch New Push Toward Mosul Old City Center

More than 175,000 have been displaced from Mosul since the offensive began in October, according to the United Nations.

But “make no mistake about it, as we get closer to the center of the city, it just gets tougher and tougher because of the terrain that the Iraqi security forces are about to enter”, Uribe said.

Will latest Iraqi offensive mean end of ISIL in Mosul?

Jassem Mohammed al-Jaff announced that field teams received “26,000 displaced people from (west) Mosul during the past 10 days”, a statement from the ministry said.

The attack reportedly happened in Eastern Mosul earlier this week.

It’s not like anyone said things like this would happen – oh wait, they did!

At least 12 civilians have been injured after a chemical attack in the Iraqi city of Mosul, marking the first known instance that chemical weapons have been used in the battle for the Islamic State (ISIS) stronghold.

The drive to retake west Mosul – the smaller but more densely populated side of a city split by the Tigris River – began on February 19, after Iraqi troops retook its east side the previous month.

“Federal police and Rapid Response Division forces are attacking Al-Dindan and Al-Dawasa neighbourhoods”, a statement from Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said.

On Tuesday, a combination of Iraqi forces – spearheaded by the US -trained Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service – surrounded the district of Wadi al-Hajar.

Authorities in Iraq said 14,000 people fled western Mosul in a single day on March 2, as fighting continued in the city’s southwest, according to Al Jazeera. In January, its eastern half was declared “fully liberated” .

Maliki said that while his soldiers have not reached the road, they can fire on targets on it, putting it under their effective control.

She said retaking the government building would be significant.

With the remaining Islamic State units retreating deeper into the historic heart of the city, street-by-street fighting is imminent.

The International Committee of the Red Cross says seven people have been admitted to a hospital near Mosul and are being treated for suspected exposure to chemical agents.