Iraq announces offensive against IS in western Mosul

Risingbd Desk: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of an offensive to drive so-called Islamic State out of the western part of Mosul.

Government troops and allied militia retook the eastern side of the city, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq, earlier this year.

But the western side, with its narrow streets, may prove a bigger challenge.

The UN has warned that the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the city is a key priority.Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over the west of the city.

"We announce the start of a new phase in the operation, we are coming to Nineveh to liberate the western side of Mosul," Mr Abadi said in a televised speech, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.


Iraqi forces have now all but surrounded the western part of Mosul, while the US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes on IS targets.

Source: Agencies



Risingbd/ Feb 19, 2017/Mukul