Tri-Service

Battle For Mosul: Iraqi Army "Ahead Of Schedule"

Iraqi forces closing in on Mosul claim they have secured some 20 villages on the outskirts of the city.

They're currently in the first 24 hours of an operation to retake the so-called Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq.

Air support from the US-led coalition, which British forces are heavily involved in, has helped government and Kurdish forces edge closer to the city.

The charity Shelterbox has been liaising with local military in Iraq. Rachel Harvey is from the charity and is 50 miles from Mosul in Irbil:

The Pentagon, meanwhile, says Iraqi forces are "ahead of schedule" as the battle enters its second day.

But Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook warned it "could take some time" as it remained to be seen whether IS would "stand and fight".

Fighting continued overnight, with IS militants attacking Iraqi army tanks.

Witnesses say they have seen IS mortar fire in villages on the plain east of the city as militants sought to counter a push by Kurdish forces.

With a population of 1.5 million, Mosul is the largest city under the control of IS, which seized swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014. Its recapture would be a "decisive moment" in defeating the militants, according to US Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

A former general with 32 years experience in the British Army says, however, that the battle to defeat IS could be a long one. Major General Jonathan Shaw, a former director of Special Forces who served in the Falklands, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq spoke to Forces TV reporter Grace Pascoe.

The urban battle ahead - in a city four to five times larger than other towns seized by the group - also poses not only a military challenge but also a humanitarian one, with the United Nations warning of an exodus of up to a million people.

About 4,000 to 8,000 militants are thought to be dug into Mosul while the forces assembled to drive them out are estimated at 30,000, including Iraqi Army, Kurdish and Sunni tribal fighters.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

"Daesh are on the back foot. The beginning of the encirclement of Mosul today is a big moment in our efforts to rid Iraq of Daesh. Mosul is a large and complex city and operations there will be tough but with coalition support Iraqi forces will prevail."

Alongside our coalition partners, the UK will continue to play a leading role in the air and on the ground, including through our strike missions, specialised surveillance, humanitarian support and the mentoring and training of Iraqi forces."