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| Battle for Mosul: Iraq and Kurdish troops make gains | Battle for Mosul: Iraq and Kurdish troops make gains |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Iraqi pro-government forces have made gains at the start of a large-scale operation to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country. | Iraqi pro-government forces have made gains at the start of a large-scale operation to retake Mosul, the last major stronghold of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country. |
| Iraqi government troops and Kurdish fighters launched their push towards the city in the early hours of Monday. | Iraqi government troops and Kurdish fighters launched their push towards the city in the early hours of Monday. |
| IS seized Mosul during a lightning offensive in June 2014. | IS seized Mosul during a lightning offensive in June 2014. |
| Correspondents say the battle will be difficult and could take months. The UN has expressed concern for civilians. | Correspondents say the battle will be difficult and could take months. The UN has expressed concern for civilians. |
| The BBC's Orla Guerin, who is with Kurdish tank units advancing from the east, says they are now within 300m of IS positions. | |
| The Kurds seized several villages in the first few hours of the operation. | The Kurds seized several villages in the first few hours of the operation. |
| As the assault began, one Kurdish general told our correspondent: "If I am killed today I will die happy because I have done something for my people." | As the assault began, one Kurdish general told our correspondent: "If I am killed today I will die happy because I have done something for my people." |
| Meanwhile pro-government forces have made gains as they move on Mosul from the south, security sources say. | Meanwhile pro-government forces have made gains as they move on Mosul from the south, security sources say. |
| They are operating from Qayyarah airbase, which was recaptured in August. | They are operating from Qayyarah airbase, which was recaptured in August. |
| The US-led coalition fighting IS is backing the assault with air strikes. | |
| Who is fighting? | Who is fighting? |
| About 30,000 pro-government troops are involved in the operation. The main assault is being led by Iraqi army troops. | About 30,000 pro-government troops are involved in the operation. The main assault is being led by Iraqi army troops. |
| About 4,000 Kurdish fighters are trying to clear villages to the east of Mosul, to allow the army to move in. | About 4,000 Kurdish fighters are trying to clear villages to the east of Mosul, to allow the army to move in. |
| US Special Operations personnel are advising forces on the ground. Elite Iraqi counterterrorism forces are expected to join in the coming days. | US Special Operations personnel are advising forces on the ground. Elite Iraqi counterterrorism forces are expected to join in the coming days. |
| An estimated 4,000-8,000 Islamic State fighters are defending the city. | An estimated 4,000-8,000 Islamic State fighters are defending the city. |
| Follow Orla Guerin, who is with Kurdish forces, on Twitter | Follow Orla Guerin, who is with Kurdish forces, on Twitter |
| Why Mosul matters | Why Mosul matters |
| Mosul, the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province, was Iraq's second-largest city before IS militants overran it in June 2014. | Mosul, the oil-rich capital of Nineveh province, was Iraq's second-largest city before IS militants overran it in June 2014. |
| Its capture became a symbol of the group's rise as a major force and its ability to control territory. It was there that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria. | Its capture became a symbol of the group's rise as a major force and its ability to control territory. It was there that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a "caliphate" in parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria. |
| The city was one of Iraq's most diverse, comprising ethnic Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens, as well as a variety of religious minorities. | The city was one of Iraq's most diverse, comprising ethnic Sunni Arabs, Kurds, Assyrians and Turkmens, as well as a variety of religious minorities. |
| While members of those minorities largely fled the onslaught by IS, many local Sunni Arabs initially welcomed the militants, angered by the sectarian policies of the previous Shia Arab-led central government. | While members of those minorities largely fled the onslaught by IS, many local Sunni Arabs initially welcomed the militants, angered by the sectarian policies of the previous Shia Arab-led central government. |
| But after two years of brutal IS rule, opposition has reportedly grown inside Mosul. | But after two years of brutal IS rule, opposition has reportedly grown inside Mosul. |
| One major concern for those still there is the involvement of Shia militiamen in the offensive, after they were accused of sectarian abuses in other cities that have been recaptured. | One major concern for those still there is the involvement of Shia militiamen in the offensive, after they were accused of sectarian abuses in other cities that have been recaptured. |
| Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sought to reassure them by saying only Iraqi security forces would be allowed to enter Mosul. | Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has sought to reassure them by saying only Iraqi security forces would be allowed to enter Mosul. |
| Even if IS is driven out of Mosul, the group will still control areas of northern and eastern Iraq. | Even if IS is driven out of Mosul, the group will still control areas of northern and eastern Iraq. |
| What about the civilians in Mosul? | What about the civilians in Mosul? |
| UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said: "I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted." | UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien said: "I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted." |
| Many are expected to be caught in the fighting. There are fear that residents could be used as human shields by IS. | Many are expected to be caught in the fighting. There are fear that residents could be used as human shields by IS. |
| As many as a million people could be forced to flee their homes. | As many as a million people could be forced to flee their homes. |
| Most are expected to leave "with only the clothes on their backs," Becky Bakr Abdulla of the Norwegian Refugee Council told AFP news agency. | Most are expected to leave "with only the clothes on their backs," Becky Bakr Abdulla of the Norwegian Refugee Council told AFP news agency. |