Iraqi government launches new offensive on west Mosul

Iraqi government forces have resumed their push towards western Mosul, the last major stronghold of ISIS in Iraq

20 February 2017, 8:19am

1 min read

Iraqi troops seized several villages during the first day of the offensive

Iraq's prime minister has announced the launch of a new military assault aimed at taking western Mosul from the Islamic State group (ISIS).

Thousands of troops are involved in the assault, backed by artillery and air power.

The Iraqi forces seized 17 villages from ISIS on Sunday, according to top army commander Abdulamir Yarallah, advancing from several directions towards Mosul airport, which lies just south 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," Haider al-Abadi said on television.

A top army commander later announced that forces led by federal police units retook villages south of Mosul, including Athbah, which leaves them within striking distance of the airport."We launched our operation at 7:00am (5:00am CET) ... We are heading towards the airport," Abbas al-Juburi of the interior ministry's elite Rapid Response force said.

The eastern part of the city was liberated from ISIS last month after heavy fighting.