Iraqi troops face suicide bombers and stiff resistance from Isis as they push into Mosul
The city has been under Isis control since 2014
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance from Isis fighters as they pushed deeper into the beleaguered city of Mosul on Saturday.
Coalition air support backed up the soldiers as they continued to fight for the city, which has been held by the Sunni extremist group since 2014.
Mosul is the last major city under Isis control in Iraq.
At dawn, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighborhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighborhood on Friday, said Major General Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces.
General al-Aridi said Isis militants were fighting back with snipers, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar rounds.
Thick black columns of smoke were seen billowing from the two areas, while dozens of civilians fled to government-controlled areas.
Shortly before noon, a suicide bomber emerged from a house in the Tahrir neighborhood and attacked security forces, wounding four troops. Another suicide car bomber hit the troops in Aden neighborhood afternoon, killing a soldier and wounding three others.
Also on Saturday, Isis killed seven pro-government Sunni tribal fighters and five police officers in a town south of Mosul, according to local security sources.
The tribal fighters and police were gunned down at two fake checkpoints set up by the insurgents in Shirqat, a Sunni town between Mosul and Baghdad, the sources said.
The offensive to retake Mosul, which was launched in October, is the biggest military operation in Iraq since American troops left in 2011. If successful, the capture of Mosul would be the strongest blow dealt to Isis' self-styled caliphate since it was established.
Shia militias are leading an assault to drive Isis from Tal Afar, which had a majority Shia population before it fell to Isis, and to cut Isis supply lines linking Mosul to Syria.
According to the United Nations, more than 56,000 civilians have been forced from their homes since the operation began out of nearly 1.5 million civilians living in and around Mosul.
AP/Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments