Iraqi forces say about to encircle Islamic State in Mosul's Old City
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Thu Jun 15, 2017 | 3:24pm EDT
Iraqi forces say about to encircle Islamic State in Mosul's Old City
Iraqi forces said they were about to complete the encirclement of Islamic State's stronghold in the Old City of Mosul, after taking control of a neighboring district on Thursday.
Iraq's military said it had captured Bab Sinjar, north of the historic, densely-populated district where the militants launched their cross-border "caliphate" in 2014.
Government forces and their allies still have to take full control of Medical City, a complex of hospitals further north along the bank of the Tigris, to enclose the militant enclave.
The offensive to retake the northern city started in October with air and ground support from a U.S.-led international coalition.
Iraqi government forces retook eastern Mosul in January then a month later began the offensive on the western side where bout 200,000 civilians remain trapped behind Islamic State lines.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKBN1961Z9