Mosul battle ‘last chapter’

IRAQI troops have begun to attack the last Islamic State stronghold in Mosul. Elite units commander Lt Gen Abdul Ghani al-asadi called the assault on the Old City “the last chapter” in a nine-month fight to take back the city. About 100,000 civilians are trapped in the mazelike streets with little food and medicine as IS makes its last stand in Iraq. The UN said IS wants to use civilians as human shields and snipers are shooting fleeing families.