Photo: AFP
Kurdish fighters say they have launched a large-scale operation east and north of Mosul, as an offensive to oust so-called Islamic State (IS) militants from the Iraqi city continues, the BBC reports.
The Kurds say the operation aims to tighten the noose around the militants’ last major stronghold in Iraq.
The Iraqi army has been moving from the south, and special forces have now joined the offensive.
There are signs that IS leaders have fled Mosul, the US military says.
There are thought to be up to 5,000 IS fighters still in the city.
