Iraqis find bomb factory, tunnels on road to Mosul

KHAZER, Iraq – Iraqi forces explored a network of tunnels and uncovered a bombmaking facility on Thursday in a village near Mosul that was recently retaken from the Islamic State group, offering a glimpse of the challenge they will face as they move closer to the city. Ten days into the offensive, the special forces are still at least six kilometres east of the city and have faced stiff resistance, with IS firing mortars and machine-guns, and sending armoured suicide truck bombs trundling across the arid plains.

Once inside the small, sparsely populated villages that ring Mosul, Iraqi forces must contend with explosive booby-traps and hidden snipers.