Western Mosul is recaptured by Iraqis

IRAQI militarised police have captured an area on the western side of Mosul amid fierce clashes with Islamic State militants.

It comes as thousands of people continued to flee the battle to government-controlled areas, security officials said.

Iraqi forces, backed by aerial support by the US-led international coalition, launched a new push last week to drive IS militants from Mosul’s west.

They have captured so far the city’s international airport and an adjacent military base.

Iraqi authorities declared Mosul’s eastern half “fully liberated” from the Sunni militants in January, three months after launching the operation to take back Iraq’s second-largest city.

the Federal Police Commandos Division moved into the Tayaran area amid fierce clashes, Major General Haider al-Maturi said. He said the neighbourhood “is now under their full control”.

Mr Al-Maturi said IS militants deployed at least 10 suicide car bombs, but nine of them were blown up before reaching their targets.

The 10th killed two policemen and wounded five. Mr Al-Maturi said his forces arrested two militants – an Iraqi and a foreigner who speaks Russian.

Elsewhere, up to 3,000 people fled from the Mamun area yesterday, while just over 2,500 people fled on Saturday.

According to UN figures, about 750,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in their houses in western Mosul.