Islamic State stronghold in Mosul 'surrounded by US-backed forces'
The jihadists are facing government troops to the north, west, south and east of their territory in Iraq's second city.
Tuesday 20 June 2017 15:51, UK
The Islamic State's final stronghold in Mosul is now surrounded by US-backed forces, according to the Iraqi army.
The country's military said the terror group's territory in the Old City of Mosul was encircled on Tuesday after they seized an area to the north.
It means IS faces pro-government forces, supported by an American-led coalition, to the north, south, west and across the River Tigris to the east.
It points towards the culmination of an eight-month campaign by the Iraqi army, aided by coalition air and ground support, to drive the jihadists from Iraq's second largest city.
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The militants are reported to have been putting up fierce resistance, while the United Nations fears the jihadists could be holding more than 100,000 people in the densely populated area as a human shield.
Leaflets were recently dropped from aircraft urging civilians to take any opportunity to escape.
IS is also believed to have blocked all entrances to their stronghold and booby-trapped houses along the Old City's narrow streets.
The offensive to retake Mosul, which had become the IS de facto capital, began in October with full control of half the city regained by January.
The Iraqi army believe there are 300 IS militants left in Mosul, compared with almost 6,000 at the start of the campaign.
Mosul was once a city of two million people.