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Battle for Mosul: The story so far Battle for Mosul: The story so far
(about 3 hours later)
Attempt to retake western Mosul begins, 19 February Iraqi security forces taking part in a military offensive to reclaim the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State (IS) have recaptured the airport to the west of the city.
Iraqi government forces launched an offensive to liberate the western part of the city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State (IS), after retaking the city's eastern half last month. Taking the airport is a key gain in the government's bid to drive IS militants from the western half of the city. Controlling it will help secure routes from the south.
Air strikes rained down as hundreds of military vehicles rolled across the desert towards the jihadists' positions, almost exactly four months after the Mosul operation began. Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen, assisted by US-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, are involved in the operation, launched on 17 October 2016.
Several villages were captured. IS jihadists overran Mosul as they spread across much of northern and western Iraq two years earlier in 2014.
On the fifth day of the offensive, Iraqi forces attacked Mosul airport, a key part of the government's offensive to drive IS militants from the western half of the city. They also stormed the nearby al-Ghazlani military camp, where they were met with fierce resistance. Western Mosul, with its narrow, winding streets, presents a more difficult challenge than the east of the city, liberated in January. The west is densely populated and includes districts regarded as pro-IS.
The western side, with its narrow, winding streets, presents a more difficult challenge than the rest of the city. The UN has voiced concern about civilians trapped there, amid reports that they could number up to 650,000. Retaking the whole of Mosul is expected to take several more months.
Experts warn that western Mosul, although slightly smaller than the east, is more densely populated and includes districts that are seen as pro-IS. The UN has voiced concern about civilians trapped in the west, amid reports that they could number up to 650,000.
Retaking of eastern Mosul, 18 January The UN said in late January that almost half of all the casualties in Mosul were civilians. At least 1,096 have been killed and 694 injured across Nineveh province since the start of October.
Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, the task force's commander, described the recapture of eastern Mosul as a "monumental achievement" for the Iraqi people. Territorial control: 20 February 2016
He praised the way Iraqi security personnel, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen, assisted by US-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, had come together to fight a common enemy. Lt Gen Stephen Townsend, the operation's task force commander, described the recapture of eastern Mosul as a "monumental achievement" for the Iraqi people, but warned there was "still a long way to go" before IS was eliminated from Iraq.
However, Gen Townsend warned: "There is still a long way to go before [IS] is completely eliminated from Iraq, and the fight for western Mosul is likely to be even tougher than the eastern side." It took from mid-October until 8 January 2017 for Iraqi forces to advance as far as the River Tigris and another two weeks to gain full control of the eastern side of Mosul.
The Mosul offensive was launched on 17 October, more than two years after jihadists overran the city before seizing control of much of northern and western Iraq.
On 1 November, Iraqi government forces reached the outskirts of Mosul, but they encountered fierce resistance from IS snipers, suicide bombers and shellfire.
Bad weather also hampered their advance, with poor visibility limiting the ability of aircraft to provide cover.
It took until 8 January 2017 for the Iraqi forces to advance as far as the River Tigris and another two weeks to gain full control of the eastern side of the city.
Elsewhere in the region, the Shia-dominated, paramilitary Popular Mobilisation force has been advancing westwards towards the town of Tal Afar and the border with Syria.Elsewhere in the region, the Shia-dominated, paramilitary Popular Mobilisation force has been advancing westwards towards the town of Tal Afar and the border with Syria.
Territory held around Mosul, 23 January
Dr Michael Knights of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said that unless there was an "unexpectedly rapid collapse of IS", the clearance of west Mosul could stretch "well into the second quarter of 2017".
Although tens of thousands of people fled their homes in and around Mosul as troops pushed into the east, the UN says about 550,000 chose to remain in their homes.
The UN says almost half of all the casualties from Mosul have been civilians. At least 1,096 have been killed and 694 injured across Nineveh province since the start of October.
Territorial lossTerritorial loss
Contradictory reports mean it is difficult to know exactly how much territory has been regained.
The maps shown here are based on expert analysis from two different sources, the Institute for the Study of War (for the recent advances) and IHS Conflict Monitor for territory.
According to analysis by IHS Conflict Monitor, IS fighters have been losing territory since the offensive began. However, gains slowed when Iraqi government forces met stiff resistance in the city of Mosul.According to analysis by IHS Conflict Monitor, IS fighters have been losing territory since the offensive began. However, gains slowed when Iraqi government forces met stiff resistance in the city of Mosul.
Satellite images have revealed extensive damage to Mosul's infrastructure, buildings and archaeological sites. Territory changes: Oct 2016-Jan 2017
Satellite images have revealed extensive damage to Mosul's infrastructure, buildings and archaeological sites - in particular to the city's airport and bridges.
Mosul airport
Imagery, released by US geopolitical intelligence company Stratfor in October 2016, showed how IS fighters sabotaged much of the city's airport, with wide trenches carved into it and rubble placed along their lengths.
The images also show how coalition airstrikes, aimed at destroying key IS positions and assets, caused damage to Mosul's sugar factory - a facility kept in action by the militants.
Imagery also revealed how the jihadists constructed multiple barricades across key routes into the city, including north of the airport.
The barriers have been made out of concrete blocks and other rubble, Stratfor's analysis says, possibly from the walls of destroyed buildings.
Mosul's bridgesMosul's bridges
All bridges linking the east and west of the city, across the Tigris river, have also been destroyed.
In the centre of the city, four of the five main bridges were put out of action in October and November by coalition air strikes, with the aim of limiting the jihadists' ability to resupply or reinforce their positions in the east.In the centre of the city, four of the five main bridges were put out of action in October and November by coalition air strikes, with the aim of limiting the jihadists' ability to resupply or reinforce their positions in the east.
The Old Bridge - the only remaining route open to vehicles in the centre of the city - was disabled in a US-led coalition air strike at the end of December.The Old Bridge - the only remaining route open to vehicles in the centre of the city - was disabled in a US-led coalition air strike at the end of December.
Satellite images, released by US geopolitical intelligence company Stratfor, show how the bridges have been damaged. Stratfor images show how the bridges have been damaged.
Al Shohada Bridge
The US targeted the eastern end of the bridge with an air strike in November to stop IS forces from crossing, but IS has now damaged the western end to stop Iraqi forces from crossing.
Fifth Bridge
IS forces appear to have blown up part of the bridge towards the eastern end in another bid to stop Iraqi forces from crossing to the western side.
Old Bridge
This satellite image shows new damage at both ends of the Old Bridge.
Al Jamhuriya BridgeAl Jamhuriya Bridge
A US air strike damaged the bridge at the eastern end last October, but IS have since set up a barrier on the western side, shown below. A US air strike damaged the Al Jamhuriya Bridge at the eastern end last October, but IS have since set up a barrier on the western side, shown below.
Fourth BridgeFourth Bridge
Back in November a US air strike damaged the bridge, but more recently it has been rendered impassable by further damage, shown below. In November 2016 a US air strike damaged the bridge, but more recently it has been rendered impassable by further damage, shown below.
Nineveh province administration building
Further Stratfor imagery taken on 31 October, shows how militants have destroyed mosques, government buildings and historical areas.
The Nineveh provincial administration building, which served as IS's municipal headquarters, has been flattened by explosives.
IS fighters have also destroyed much of the city's airport in preparation for the expected arrival of Iraqi government forces.
Imagery has also revealed how the jihadists have constructed multiple barricades across key routes into the city.
IS barricades in southern Mosul
The barriers have been made out of concrete blocks and other rubble, Stratfor's analysis says, possibly from the walls of destroyed buildings. In other areas, the militants have stockpiled materials, ready to block roads as the battle nears.
Humanitarian crisisHumanitarian crisis
The International Committee for the Red Cross has warned that the offensive to retake Mosul could take months, prompting increasing numbers of civilians to leave to avoid becoming trapped between frontlines. The UN has warned that the offensive to retake western Mosul could displace up to 400,000 civilians and involve a siege in the densely-populated old city.
More than 160,000 people have now fled their homes in and around Mosul and UN officials are warning this figure is likely to rise as the Iraqi-led forces press further into the city. It estimates 800,000 civilians are living in western districts. UN humanitarian co-ordinator for Iraq, Lise Grande, said half of them could flee their homes "in a worst case" scenario - twice the displacement seen in eastern Mosul.
In a worst-case scenario, the UN's refugee agency (UNHCR) warned that the crisis could displace up to one million people and 700,000 could need emergency shelter. Leaflets warning residents of the offensive have been dropped.
Most of the people displaced from Mosul are staying in 13 camps and emergency sites. According to the UN, 10 of these camps are already full and four are being extended. Seven more are under construction. More than 160,000 people fled their homes in and around Mosul since the offensive began last October, but nearly 30,000 of them have returned to their places of origin.
Some 1,500 civilians wounded in the fighting have been sent to Irbil's main hospitals for emergency care between 17 October 2016 and 11 January 2017, according to UN reports. The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, says more than 20,000 emergency kits have been distributed to families in its camps and that it is helping about 126,000 people who have been forced to flee their homes.
It says many of those who have fled Mosul and ended up in the camps have witnessed the deaths of relatives, friends and neighbours. Children are showing severe signs of trauma - such as excessive crying, mutism, bed-wetting and fear of leaving their parents. The organisation says many of those who have fled Mosul and ended up in the camps have witnessed the deaths of relatives, friends and neighbours. Children are showing severe signs of trauma - such as excessive crying, mutism, bed-wetting and fear of leaving their parents.
Food, water and medical aid are also being delivered to vulnerable families living in newly-recaptured town and villages, which have been experiencing severe shortages of supplies.