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Mosul offensive: Iraqi forces storm airport in bid to retake city | Mosul offensive: Iraqi forces storm airport in bid to retake city |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Iraqi security forces have launched an attack on Mosul airport, a key part of the government's offensive to drive so-called Islamic State (IS) militants from the western half of the city. | Iraqi security forces have launched an attack on Mosul airport, a key part of the government's offensive to drive so-called Islamic State (IS) militants from the western half of the city. |
Military police have entered the airport and taken over the runway amid fierce clashes with IS militants, AP reported. | |
They also stormed the nearby al-Ghazlani military camp, where clashes were also taking place. | |
Eastern Mosul was retaken last month. | Eastern Mosul was retaken last month. |
The airport's runway had already been destroyed by IS, but BBC Middle East Correspondent Quentin Sommerville, who is embedded with Iraqi federal police units, says it still has value. | |
It's a large piece of land, and controlling it will help secure southern routes to west Mosul, our correspondent says. | |
A military spokesman told Iraqia TV that simultaneous raids were being carried out on the airport and al-Ghazlani base to "distract" IS. | A military spokesman told Iraqia TV that simultaneous raids were being carried out on the airport and al-Ghazlani base to "distract" IS. |
"We can confirm that the Mosul airport militarily has fallen and it's a matter of short time to fully control it," Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) spokesman Sabah al-Numan said. | "We can confirm that the Mosul airport militarily has fallen and it's a matter of short time to fully control it," Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) spokesman Sabah al-Numan said. |
The airport and the al-Ghazlani base are on Mosul's southern outskirts on the western side of the Tigris river. | The airport and the al-Ghazlani base are on Mosul's southern outskirts on the western side of the Tigris river. |
Thousands of Iraqi troops, backed by artillery and air power, are involved in the assault to retake Mosul. | Thousands of Iraqi troops, backed by artillery and air power, are involved in the assault to retake Mosul. |
Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over western Mosul, where military officials say narrow winding streets could make retaking the area particularly difficult. | Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over western Mosul, where military officials say narrow winding streets could make retaking the area particularly difficult. |
Although slightly smaller than the east, western Mosul is more densely populated and includes districts seen as pro-IS. | Although slightly smaller than the east, western Mosul is more densely populated and includes districts seen as pro-IS. |
The UN has voiced concern about the welfare of civilians trapped in the city, amid reports that they could number up to 650,000. | The UN has voiced concern about the welfare of civilians trapped in the city, amid reports that they could number up to 650,000. |
More than 160,000 people have already fled their homes in and around the city. | More than 160,000 people have already fled their homes in and around the city. |
The UN said in late January that almost half of all the casualties in Mosul were civilians. | The UN said in late January that almost half of all the casualties in Mosul were civilians. |
All bridges linking the east and west of the city, across the Tigris river, have been destroyed by air strikes. | All bridges linking the east and west of the city, across the Tigris river, have been destroyed by air strikes. |
IS jihadists overran Mosul as they spread across much of northern and western Iraq in 2014. | IS jihadists overran Mosul as they spread across much of northern and western Iraq in 2014. |