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Iraqi army cut last main exit road out of Mosul
The Iraqi army has shut the last main exit out of the Islamic State group's stronghold in western Mosul, a general and residents said
An Iraqi special forces soldier fires his rifle at Islamic State fighters' positions during a battle in Mosul
US-backed Iraqi army units shut the last main exit out of the Islamic State group's stronghold in western Mosul, controlling access to the city from the northwest, a general and residents there said on Wednesday.
The army's 9th armoured division is within a kilometre of Mosul's "Syria Gate", the north-western entrance of the city, a general from the unit told Reuters news agency.
"We effectively control the road, it is within our sight," he said. Mosul residents said they had not been able to travel on the highway that begins at the "Syria Gate" since Tuesday.
The road links Mosul to Tal Afar, another Islamic State stronghold 60 km to the west, and then to the Syrian border.
