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Mosul: Islamic State is 'a brutal opponent', says US general Mosul: Islamic State is 'a brutal opponent', says US general
(35 minutes later)
The so-called Islamic State (IS) group is "a brutal opponent" in the fight for Mosul, the head of the coalition forces for Iraq and Syria has told the BBC. The so-called Islamic State (IS) group is "a brutal opponent" in the fight for Mosul, the head of coalition forces for Iraq and Syria has told the BBC.
US Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend was speaking on the sidelines of the battle to retake the Iraqi city from the jihadist group. US Lt Gen Stephen Townsend was speaking on the sidelines of the battle to retake the Iraqi city from the jihadist group.
Lieut Gen Townsend also said IS was "adaptable, creative and cunning". Gen Townsend also said IS was "adaptable, creative and cunning".
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the operation to retake Mosul was progressing faster than planned. Iraqi forces on Thursday said they had re-captured the town of Bartella, less than 15km (10 miles) east of Mosul.
The town had seen fierce IS resistance, with reports of several suicide car bombs by militants in response to the special forces' advance.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday the operation to retake Mosul was progressing faster than planned.
The Iraqi army is moving from the south, as Kurdish fighters launch a large-scale operation east and north of the city.The Iraqi army is moving from the south, as Kurdish fighters launch a large-scale operation east and north of the city.
"They're using human shields in there," Lieut Gen Townsend said in an exclusive interview with the BBC on Thursday, speaking from an artillery position where US troops are providing fire support to Iraqi forces. "They're using human shields in there," Gen Townsend said in an exclusive interview with the BBC on Thursday, speaking from an artillery position where US troops were providing fire support to Iraqi forces.
"This is a brutal opponent that has to be stopped," he said. "This is a brutal opponent that has to be stopped," said Gen Townsend, who heads foreign forces in the fight against IS.
"They saw people's heads off on TV, they drown people and video it, they burn people alive in cages, they crucify people and they drive over people on the street with bulldozers."
Mosul has been in the hands of IS since 2014 and is the militants' last major Iraqi stronghold.Mosul has been in the hands of IS since 2014 and is the militants' last major Iraqi stronghold.
As many as 1.5 million civilians are thought to still be inside the city.
Officials have warned that the push to take Mosul could take weeks or months, with IS fighters appearing to be putting up stiff resistance in some areas.