Advertisement

  1. National

Poor weather hampers advance of Iraqi special forces into Mosul

Iraqi special forces are holding their positions along Mosul's eastern outskirts as poor weather hampers their advance into the city to oust the so-called Islamic State.

Military chief Brigadier General Haider Fadhil said they did not plan to make any further advance into the terrorist stronghold on Wednesday because clouds could obscure the view of aircraft and drones.

Troops have made a swift advance to the outskirts of Mosul in recent weeks. However they have warned it could take months to finally drive out IS from the city.

View all 42 updates ›

Iraqi forces capture first key building in battle for Mosul

Kurdish peshmerga fighters battle with Islamic State at Abu Jarboa village near Mosul. Credit: Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah

The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service has entered the building where the state television station is based in Mosul, a commander of the elite unit told Reuters.

The building's seizure is the first important milestone as forces battle for control of the Islamic State-held city.

Two weeks after Iraqi forces, backed by extensive U.S.-led ground and air support, launched their campaign to retake Mosul they have cleared several villages and towns while advancing along the Tigris river from the south.

But fighting inside the city itself, the jihadists' last big bastion in Iraq and still home to 1.5 million residents, could take months.

  1. Read more
  2. 42 updates
Poor weather hampers advance of Iraqi special forces into Mosul

More on this story