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Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul last month, but west remains in the hands of ISIS
The Associated Press
Posted: Feb 19, 2017 12:57 AM ET
Last Updated: Feb 19, 2017 12:57 AM ET
Iraqi forces have launched an operation to retake the western half of Mosul from the Islamic State group.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operation early Sunday morning on state television, saying government forces were moving to “liberate the people of Mosul from Daesh oppression forever”, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.
Southwest of Mosul, near the city’s ISIS-held airport, plumes of smoke were seen rising into the sky as coalition aircraft bombed militant positions. Further south at an Iraqi base, federal police forces were gathering and getting ready to move north.
Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul last month, but the west remains in the hands of entrenched militants.
Iraqi Army troops are seen in Mosul on Jan. 30. Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul last month, but the west remains in the hands of entrenched militants. (Khalid Mohammed/Associated Press)
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