International News

MOSUL, Iraq, (MILLAT+APP/AFP) – Elite Iraqi forces
were engaged in “intense” fighting with militants in eastern
Mosul on Saturday, an officer said, as civilians gathered on
the city’s outskirts to flee.
Iraqi forces launched a massive operation to retake
the country’s second city from the Islamic State group on
October 17, and the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) special
forces have pushed the militants back from some Mosul
neighbourhoods.
But there are still weeks if not months of fighting
ahead in the battle to recapture the last IS-held Iraqi city,
and aid workers have warned that displacement may spike as
Iraqi troops push deeper into Mosul.
“The fighting is intense this morning. We’re trying to
fortify our positions in Arbajiyah before continuing our attack
into Al-Bakr,” said Staff Lieutenant Colonel Muntadhar Salem of
CTS, referring to two Mosul areas.