Isis suffers major defeat in battle for Mosul

Iraqi army’s swift capture of airport is key victory in campaign

Iraqi forces claim to have made a major gain in the fight to push Isis out of the country by seizing control of Mosul’s airport yesterday – with the location set to be a staging post as troops move into the west of the city. The units also fought their way into the Ghazlani military base close to the airport as part of a twopronged assault from the south-west. The Iraqi flag was once more flying near the airfield, even as Isis mort-ars rained down on the advancing forces. Clashes continued throughout the day, but Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces pushed on towards Isis-held enclaves in west Mosul, where the next part of the fight will take place.