Iraq retook over 60% of east Mosul: army
Iraqi forces have retaken more than 60 percent of eastern Mosul from the Islamic State group since the battle for the city began in mid-October, a top commander said yesterday.
He was speaking in an area southeast of Mosul, the city where IS proclaimed a cross-border "caliphate" in June 2014 after overrunning it and swathes of other Iraqi territory.
The eastern side of Mosul, which is split by the Tigris River, is the larger of the two, but more civilians live in the west, he said.
Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain inside Iraq's second city, a large urban area that gives IS myriad opportunities for ambushes, forcing Iraqi and allied forces to take precautions and slowing their advance.
Iraqi forces have yet to enter west Mosul, which is still completely held by IS.
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