Iraqi forces reach eastern edge of Mosul

BAZWAYA, Iraq — Iraqi special forces stood poised to enter Mosul in an offensive to drive out ISIL militants after sweeping into the last village on the city’s eastern edge Monday while fending off suicide car bombs without losing a soldier.

Armoured vehicles, including tanks, drew fire from mortars and small arms as they moved on the village of Bazwaya in an assault that began at dawn, while artillery and airstrikes hit ISIL positions.

By evening, the fighting had stopped and units took up positions about a kilometre from Mosul’s eastern border and about eight kilometres from the centre, two weeks into the offensive to retake Iraq’s second-largest city.

“We will enter the city of Mosul soon and liberate it from Daesh,” said Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil of Iraq’s special forces, using an Arabic acronym for the extremists. He added that more than 20 militants had been killed while his forces suffered only one light injury.

Since Oct. 17, Iraqi forces and Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shiite militias have been converging on Mosul from all directions. Entering Gogjali, at the edge of Mosul, could be the start of a new slog for the troops as they’ll be forced to engage in difficult, houseto-house fighting in more urban areas. The operation is expected to take weeks, if not months.

The U.S. military estimates ISIL has 3,000 to 5,000 fighters in Mosul and another 1,500 to 2,500 in its outer defensive belt.

— GETTY IMAGES An injured Iraqi counterterrorism officer receives medical treatment Monday following clashes with ISIL near the village of Bazwaya, on the eastern edges of Mosul. Iraqi special forces tightened its noose as the offensive entered its third week.