Terror fight ‘put on hold’ over air blitz

IRAQI forces halted their push to recapture Mosul from Islamic State yesterday due to the high rate of civilian casualties.

Around 250 civilians have been killed in the last week during Iraqi and USled coalition airstrikes.

Horrific reports are emerging of children being buried alive in rubble.

Dozens of people were trapped in collapsed buildings after an air raid triggered a huge explosion on Thursday.

The US-backed offensive to drive IS out of Mosul, now in its sixth month, has recaptured most of the city.

A Federal Police spokesman said: “The recent high death toll among civilians forced us to halt operations to review our plans.

Yesterday the US military confirmed it has opened an investigation int allegations that an airstrike on March 17 claimed dozens of civilian lives.