AL-SHURA, Iraq, Oct 17 (APP/AFP): Iraqi forces advanced Monday in an offensive aimed at retaking Mosul and dealing a death blow to the Islamic State group’s “caliphate” in the city where it was declared two years ago. The start of the long-awaited assault raised deep concerns for hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in Iraq’s second-largest city, with aid groups warning of a massive humanitarian crisis. Some 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS’s last major Iraqi stronghold. Iraqi forces readied weapons and ammunition as columns of armoured vehicles headed towards Mosul from the town of Al-Shura, some 45 kilometres (30 miles) south of the city. The Pentagon described the operation as a “decisive moment” in the fight against IS, but the US-led coalition’s top commander warned it could last weeks or more.
International News
Iraq forces advance on IS stronghold of Mosul
