Mosul battle reaches strategic bridge over the Tigris

IRAQ: Iraqi forces reached the southernmost bridge over the River Tigris yesterday, a milestone that will enable them to shorten their supply lines in the battle against Islamic State.

As they advanced in west Mosul, troops from the interior ministry’s rapid response division said they had moved through the southern suburb of Tayaran into Josaq district to reach the severely-damaged bridge.

Aircraft of the United States-led coalition have attacked all five bridges over the river, but hit them at the ends near the banks so they could be repaired easily.

However, once they became useless for Isis in sending reinforcements to west Mosul, the group blew up segments over the river itself.

Since beginning the assault on west Mosul just over a week ago, the combined police and army units have made reasonably fast progress. They have taken back the airport and the Ghazlani military base on the city’s outskirts.

Television footage showed armoured vehicles driving past Josaq district and firing into it under air cover.

However, the real test will come when they reach the old city, a warren of buildings that proved difficult for previous armies to secure, including the Americans after the 2003 invasion.

There are up to 3000 Isis fighters still in the city. Isis also has control west to the city of Tal Afar, but that is under attack from mainly Shia militias and largescale reinforcements are not expected.

Major-general Thamir alhussaini, head of the rapid reaction force, said jihadists were fighting hard using snipers and anti-tank missiles.

However, the rate of suicide car bomb attacks has slowed, partly because the army has honed its defences, meaning many suicide attackers have died for no gain.

The Pentagon presented the White House yesterday with new proposals on how the war against Isis should proceed.

President Donald Trump, who promised to ‘‘bomb the hell’’ out of Isis in his election campaign, had given military planners 30 days to come up with a way of taking the war to the jihadists.

Leaks suggested the Pentagon plans would not involve a big change in strategy, with the Us-led coalition still preferring to rely on local ground forces rather than sending in large numbers of troops.

However, the pace of bombing could be stepped up. – The Times