Iraqi Shi&#39;ite militias backed by Iran said on Friday they would soon join the fight against Islamic State on a new front west of Mosul, a move which could block any retreat by the jihadists into Syria but might alarm Turkey and the United States.

The Shi&#39;ite militias, with thousands of battle-hardened fighters trained by Iran, would bring important extra firepower to what is expected to be the biggest battle in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.

But their arrival on the battlefield in one of the most diverse parts of Iraq also creates worry for Western countries backing the Iraqi government offensive, who fear that the Shi&#39;ite fighters could alienate residents in mainly Sunni areas.

A spokesman for the paramilitary groups said the advance towards the Islamic State-held town of Tal Afar, about 55 km (35 miles) west of Mosul, would start within &quot;a few days or hours&quot;.

If successful, the offensive would leave Islamic State fighters - and the 1.5 million civilians still living in Mosul - encircled by an advancing coalition of forces which seeks to crush the hardline Sunni militants in their Iraq stronghold.

As many as 50,000 Iraqi soldiers, police and Kurdish peshmerga fighters, backed by US-led air strikes and support on the ground, have advanced on Mosul for nearly two weeks from the south, north and east.

They have already recaptured scores of villages on the flat plains east of Mosul and along the Tigris river to the south of the city, Islamic State&#39;s last big bastion in Iraq.

Until now, it has not been clear whether the Shi&#39;ite paramilitaries would join the fight, or whether the western approaches of the city would be left open so that civilians and militants could escape.

Rights groups have called on Baghdad to keep the Shi&#39;ite militias away from the battlefield, accusing them of carrying out revenge killings and kidnappings in other areas freed from Islamic State. The militias and the Baghdad government say any such abuses were isolated incidents and not widespread.

The battle for Mosul itself, a city many times larger than any other ever held by Islamic State, is expected to be the biggest military operation in Iraq since US&nbsp;troops invaded to topple former president Saddam Hussein nearly 14 years ago.

Adding to the challenges facing the advancing forces, retreating Islamic State fighters have forced women and children from outlying villages to march alongside them as human shields as they withdraw into the city, according to villagers who spoke to Reuters by telephone from Mosul.

Older boys and men of fighting age were taken off to an unknown fate, they said.

The United Nations said on Friday Islamic State had abducted 8,000 families from around Mosul to use as human shields, and had killed 232 people near the city on Wednesday who refused to comply with orders.

The group&#39;s &quot;depraved, cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilians to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations, effectively using tens of thousands of women, men and children as human shields,&quot; UN&nbsp;high commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra&#39;ad al Hussein said.

A man who was among those taken to Mosul from a village south of the city described the exodus for those forced to retreat with the fighters as human shields.

&quot;They put us in a trailer pulled by a tractor, and along the way we saw civilians shot dead with bullets in the head on both sides of the road; about ten, all of them men,&quot; said the man, speaking from one of the few parts of Mosul where mobile phone coverage still works. &quot;We are in shock.&quot;

(Reuters)

The move could block any retreat by the IS into Syria, but western countries fear the fighters could alienate residents in mainly Sunni area

Iraqi Shi'ite militias backed by Iran said on Friday they would soon join the fight against Islamic State on a new front west of Mosul, a move which could block any retreat by the jihadists into Syria but might alarm Turkey and the United States. The Shi'ite militias, with thousands of battle-hardened fighters trained by Iran, would bring important extra firepower to what is expected to be the biggest battle in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003. But their arrival on the battlefield in one of the most diverse parts of Iraq also creates worry for Western countries backing the Iraqi government offensive, who fear that the Shi'ite fighters could alienate residents in mainly Sunni areas. A spokesman for the paramilitary groups said the advance towards the Islamic State-held town of Tal Afar, about 55 km (35 miles) west of Mosul, would start within "a few days or hours". If successful, the offensive would leave Islamic State fighters - and the 1.5 million civilians still living in Mosul - encircled by an advancing coalition of forces which seeks to crush the hardline Sunni militants in their Iraq stronghold. As many as 50,000 Iraqi soldiers, police and Kurdish peshmerga fighters, backed by US-led air strikes and support on the ground, have advanced on Mosul for nearly two weeks from the south, north and east. They have already recaptured scores of villages on the flat plains east of Mosul and along the Tigris river to the south of the city, Islamic State's last big bastion in Iraq. Until now, it has not been clear whether the Shi'ite paramilitaries would join the fight, or whether the western approaches of the city would be left open so that civilians and militants could escape. Rights groups have called on Baghdad to keep the Shi'ite militias away from the battlefield, accusing them of carrying out revenge killings and kidnappings in other areas freed from Islamic State. The militias and the Baghdad government say any such abuses were isolated incidents and not widespread. The battle for Mosul itself, a city many times larger than any other ever held by Islamic State, is expected to be the biggest military operation in Iraq since US troops invaded to topple former president Saddam Hussein nearly 14 years ago. Adding to the challenges facing the advancing forces, retreating Islamic State fighters have forced women and children from outlying villages to march alongside them as human shields as they withdraw into the city, according to villagers who spoke to Reuters by telephone from Mosul. Older boys and men of fighting age were taken off to an unknown fate, they said. The United Nations said on Friday Islamic State had abducted 8,000 families from around Mosul to use as human shields, and had killed 232 people near the city on Wednesday who refused to comply with orders. The group's "depraved, cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilians to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations, effectively using tens of thousands of women, men and children as human shields," UN high commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al Hussein said. A man who was among those taken to Mosul from a village south of the city described the exodus for those forced to retreat with the fighters as human shields. "They put us in a trailer pulled by a tractor, and along the way we saw civilians shot dead with bullets in the head on both sides of the road; about ten, all of them men," said the man, speaking from one of the few parts of Mosul where mobile phone coverage still works. "We are in shock." (Reuters)

Iran-backed Shi'ite militias to join assault near Mosul on new front

Islamic State (IS) forces in Iraq have abducted tens of thousands of men, women and children from areas around Mosul and are using them as &quot;human shields&quot; in the city as Iraqi government troops advance, the UN&nbsp;human rights office said on Friday.

The hardline Sunni militants, known as IS, killed at least 232 people on Wednesday, including 190 former Iraqi troops and 42 civilians who refused to obey their orders, UN&nbsp;human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said.

&quot;Credible reports suggest that IS&nbsp;has been forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes in sub-districts around Mosul and have forcibly relocated numbers of civilians inside the city itself since the operation began on the 17th of October to restore Iraqi government control over Mosul,&quot; Shamdasani told a briefing.

This was to &quot;use them as human shields, to be able to keep them close to military installations...to try to frustrate the military operation against them,&quot; she said. Nearly 8,000 families, of roughly six people each, were abducted in sub-districts including Shura, she said.

&quot;IS&#39;s depraved cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilian hostages to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations, effectively using tens of thousands of women, men and children as human shields,&quot; Shamdasani said. &quot;Many of those who refused to comply were shot on the spot,&quot; she said.

The reports, from people who have fled as well as aid groups, have been corroborated by the United Nations, she added.

Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi&#39;ite paramilitary groups are about to launch an offensive on Islamic State positions west of Mosul, assisting in the military campaign to take back the city, a spokesman said on Friday.

&nbsp;

UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein has voiced deep concern at reports that some individuals in the areas south of Mosul have &quot;embarked on revenge killings and have vowed on television that there would be &#39;eye-for-eye&#39; revenge against those who sided with IS&quot;, Shamdasani said.

&quot;Some people say that &#39;I saw this man coming, and he killed my father, so I couldn&#39;t resist, I had to exact revenge&#39;, she said. She went on to say that some villagers have been prevented from returning to their villages due to their perceived support of IS.

Government screening is in place to check people fleeing Mosul but the process must be carried out in humane conditions respecting international standards, Shamdasani said. &quot;Captured IS&nbsp;fighters and those perceived to have supported them must be treated fully in accordance with international law and held accountable for their crimes by properly constituted tribunals.&quot;

(Reuters)

IS killed at least 232 people on Wednesday, including 190 former Iraqi security forces and 40 civilians who refused to obey their orders

Islamic State (IS) forces in Iraq have abducted tens of thousands of men, women and children from areas around Mosul and are using them as "human shields" in the city as Iraqi government troops advance, the UN human rights office said on Friday. The hardline Sunni militants, known as IS, killed at least 232 people on Wednesday, including 190 former Iraqi troops and 42 civilians who refused to obey their orders, UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said. "Credible reports suggest that IS has been forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes in sub-districts around Mosul and have forcibly relocated numbers of civilians inside the city itself since the operation began on the 17th of October to restore Iraqi government control over Mosul," Shamdasani told a briefing. This was to "use them as human shields, to be able to keep them close to military installations...to try to frustrate the military operation against them," she said. Nearly 8,000 families, of roughly six people each, were abducted in sub-districts including Shura, she said. "IS's depraved cowardly strategy is to attempt to use the presence of civilian hostages to render certain points, areas or military forces immune from military operations, effectively using tens of thousands of women, men and children as human shields," Shamdasani said. "Many of those who refused to comply were shot on the spot," she said. The reports, from people who have fled as well as aid groups, have been corroborated by the United Nations, she added. Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitary groups are about to launch an offensive on Islamic State positions west of Mosul, assisting in the military campaign to take back the city, a spokesman said on Friday. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein has voiced deep concern at reports that some individuals in the areas south of Mosul have "embarked on revenge killings and have vowed on television that there would be 'eye-for-eye' revenge against those who sided with IS", Shamdasani said. "Some people say that 'I saw this man coming, and he killed my father, so I couldn't resist, I had to exact revenge', she said. She went on to say that some villagers have been prevented from returning to their villages due to their perceived support of IS. Government screening is in place to check people fleeing Mosul but the process must be carried out in humane conditions respecting international standards, Shamdasani said. "Captured IS fighters and those perceived to have supported them must be treated fully in accordance with international law and held accountable for their crimes by properly constituted tribunals." (Reuters)

Islamic State using 'tens of thousands' as human shields in Mosul: UN

Appalled by the air strike that killed 22 Syrian school children in Aleppo on Wednesday, the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon called for &quot;an immediate and impartial investigation&quot; and an end to &quot;such horrific acts&quot;, his spokesman said on Thursday.&nbsp;

&quot;If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime,&quot; Ban said in a statement from his spokesman. He also raised concerns about a series of attacks on civilian targets in Syria, now in its sixth year of war.&nbsp;

&quot;If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice,&quot; he said. &quot;They must be proved wrong.&quot;

Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UN envoy for global education, earlier called on the Security Council to ask the ICC prosecutor to open up an investigation of the attack, describing it as a war crime.

The human rights observers in Syria said &quot;either Russian or Syrian warplanes were responsible for the six air strikes&quot; on Wednesday in the village in rebel-held Idlib province, which also hit the school complex. UNICEF said the compound had been &quot;repeatedly attacked&quot;.

But Moscow denied any involvement in the strikes, saying it had vowed to maintain a moratorium on strikes in the region.&nbsp;

&quot;The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack,&quot; foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Moscow demanded an immediate investigation.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

The secretary general called for an immediate probe, adding that the repeated attacks on schools in Syria 'may amount to war crimes'

Appalled by the air strike that killed 22 Syrian school children in Aleppo on Wednesday, the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon called for "an immediate and impartial investigation" and an end to "such horrific acts", his spokesman said on Thursday. "If deliberate, this attack may amount to a war crime," Ban said in a statement from his spokesman. He also raised concerns about a series of attacks on civilian targets in Syria, now in its sixth year of war. "If such horrific acts persist despite global outrage, it is largely because their authors, whether in corridors of power or in insurgent redoubts, do not fear justice," he said. "They must be proved wrong." Former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who is the UN envoy for global education, earlier called on the Security Council to ask the ICC prosecutor to open up an investigation of the attack, describing it as a war crime. The human rights observers in Syria said "either Russian or Syrian warplanes were responsible for the six air strikes" on Wednesday in the village in rebel-held Idlib province, which also hit the school complex. UNICEF said the compound had been "repeatedly attacked". But Moscow denied any involvement in the strikes, saying it had vowed to maintain a moratorium on strikes in the region. "The Russian Federation has nothing to do with this terrible tragedy, with this attack," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, adding that Moscow demanded an immediate investigation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UN chief demands probe into air strikes that killed 22 Syrian school children

The&nbsp;Pakistan-based militant organisation, Al-Alami faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group said on Wednesday that it had carried out the attack on the police training facility in Quetta with the Islamic State&#39;s support.&nbsp;

The Islamic State group released photographs of the attackers which killed at least 61 police cadets in the massive midnight raid at the training centre in Balochistan.&nbsp;

Asked whether the two had worked together, Ali bin Sufyan, a spokesman for LeJ Al-Alami, told AFP: &quot;Yes, of course&quot;, adding: &quot;We are ready to work with all the groups in Pakistan whether they belong to ISIS or al-Qaeda&quot;. LeJ is a former affiliate of al-Qaeda.

This has been the strongest evidence to date that the IS group has built links in Pakistan, and could pose a key rival to al-Qaeda, which is rapidly losing strength in what was once its &quot;home ground&quot;. The extent of the material assistance to local groups from the IS remains unclear.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/quetta-terror-attack-as-quetta-bleeds-pakistan-must-remember-what-is-at-stake-7947/">Also&nbsp;read the opinion piece on Quetta attack here:&nbsp;As Quetta bleeds, Pakistan must remember what is at stake</a>

A military source claimed, &quot;the militant groups including Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban have been completely dismantled and those left out are now regrouping and attempting to become part of IS.&quot;

The vacuum has created opportunities for IS to step in and develop new relationships with local militants in need of financial and logistical support, a militant source added.

Last month, Pakistan&#39;s military admitted for the first time that the IS had a presence in the country but said it had detained hundreds of its militants and prevented them from carrying out major attacks.&nbsp;

And officials say rank-and-file LeJ members were among the first Pakistani militants to travel to Syria after IS announced its so-called Caliphate.

(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The extent of support from the Islamic State is unclear, but Pakistani military last month admitted to the group's presence in the country

The Pakistan-based militant organisation, Al-Alami faction of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) group said on Wednesday that it had carried out the attack on the police training facility in Quetta with the Islamic State's support. The Islamic State group released photographs of the attackers which killed at least 61 police cadets in the massive midnight raid at the training centre in Balochistan. Asked whether the two had worked together, Ali bin Sufyan, a spokesman for LeJ Al-Alami, told AFP: "Yes, of course", adding: "We are ready to work with all the groups in Pakistan whether they belong to ISIS or al-Qaeda". LeJ is a former affiliate of al-Qaeda. This has been the strongest evidence to date that the IS group has built links in Pakistan, and could pose a key rival to al-Qaeda, which is rapidly losing strength in what was once its "home ground". The extent of the material assistance to local groups from the IS remains unclear. Also read the opinion piece on Quetta attack here: As Quetta bleeds, Pakistan must remember what is at stake A military source claimed, "the militant groups including Al-Qaeda and Pakistani Taliban have been completely dismantled and those left out are now regrouping and attempting to become part of IS." The vacuum has created opportunities for IS to step in and develop new relationships with local militants in need of financial and logistical support, a militant source added. Last month, Pakistan's military admitted for the first time that the IS had a presence in the country but said it had detained hundreds of its militants and prevented them from carrying out major attacks. And officials say rank-and-file LeJ members were among the first Pakistani militants to travel to Syria after IS announced its so-called Caliphate. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Quetta terror attack: Pakistan-based militant group LeJ claims IS support in attack on police college

White flags flying from their radio antennas, the pickup trucks laden with refugees and a few precious livestock snaked out of Tub Zawa after a day of heavy bombardment drove Islamic State fighters from the village on Mosul&#39;s eastern edge.

Around 700 people fled the village early on Tuesday, escaping the military operation to recapture Iraq&#39;s second biggest city from the jihadists who have controlled it for nearly two and a half years.

In the first 10 days of the Mosul campaign, the Iraqi army and Kurdish peshmerga fighters backed by US-led air forces and troops have made steady gains through often depopulated villages east and south of Mosul.

But as they approach the city itself, still home to more than a million people, the advancing forces are pushing the frontlines into villages like Tub Zawa where residents had until this week stayed put.

That will make the fighting more difficult and deadly, and prompted a senior United Nations official in Iraq to say an exodus from Mosul, and a potential humanitarian crisis&nbsp;could be only a few days away.

Tub Zawa, close to the main road into Mosul from the east, is one of the first populated villages reached by Iraqi counter-terrorism forces after they cleared Islamic State last week from a Christian region which has been largely empty since 2014.

Abdul Bassit, an elderly shepherd from the predominantly Sunni Arab settlement, said he had sheltered for hours with a dozen relatives under the stairs of their house on Monday while the military bombarded the village for hours with mortars and air strikes, and the jihadists responded with car bombs.

When they fled their homes the next day, they took only their most important possessions with them, which in many cases was livestock.

Women and small children shared space with sheep, goats, calves and chickens in the beds of pickup trucks on their journey to a camp for displaced people at the Kurdish-controlled town of Hassan Sham, further east.

So far the number of people displaced since the Mosul campaign was formally launched on October 17 is relatively modest - the International Organization for Migration says just over 10,000 people have been uprooted.

Those who head into Kurdish areas, like the Tub Zawa families, are checked by Kurdish peshmerga on the road linking Mosul to the Kurdish city of Erbil, about 75 km (45 miles) away.

On Tuesday, the villagers parked their cars and pickup trucks along the Erbil highway, as the peshmerga sorted through them. Women and children were bussed quickly to the camp but men sat in vehicles for hours waiting to undergo security screening.

Some of them took the opportunity to shave thick beards they say Islamic State forced them to grow after seizing large swathes of northern and western Iraq in a bid to build a modern-day caliphate. Tufts of dark facial hair littered the road under one of the vehicle&#39;s side-view mirrors.

&quot;It was hell,&quot; said Abdul Bassit, describing life under the hardline Sunni Islamists. Smoking was forbidden and carried a punishment of 70 lashes, he said. Dress was strictly regulated, cell phones prohibited and women prevented from leaving the house.

The villagers said Islamic State fighters did not speak to them much and they avoided contact as much as possible. Most of them were Iraqi, they said, but one man recalled meeting a Kuwaiti fighter.

&quot;We would see them in the mosque for the five daily prayers, but that was about it,&quot; he said. The fighters were either killed in Monday&#39;s clashes with government forces or fled deeper into Islamic State-held territory.

Ahmed Kamel, 31, said the number of Islamic State fighters inside Mosul - estimated by the Iraqi military at up to 6,000 - was small but their insurgent tactics would make it difficult for the 30,000-strong Iraqi force to rout them.

&quot;It could take one month, one year, 10 days,&quot; he said of the offensive. &quot;I don&#39;t know, but I hope it is 10 days.&quot;

Iraq&#39;s elite counter-terrorism forces, which are spearheading the offensive, are now just a few kilometres from Mosul. Beyond Tub Zawa, only Bazwaia village, and some military camps separate them from the city&#39;s eastern limits.

But the troops paused their advance on Tuesday, a senior commander told Reuters, waiting for the other US-backed forces to close in from the south and northeast.

While the soldiers regrouped, one villager recounted his experiences of life under the Sunni militants now preparing to battle for the city.

Sixty-eight-year-old Ghazi Fathi, sitting alone in the driver&#39;s seat of a beat up sedan, raised his stained white galabiya to reveal about a dozen crude stitches above his waist and a large bandage on the left side of his abdomen.

&quot;They tortured me,&quot; he said of Islamic State, without explaining how. &quot;They asked me if I was sheltering my Shi&#39;ite neighbours and when I told them &#39;no&#39; they accused me of lying.&quot;

Fathi, writhing in pain on Tuesday, called through his car window for medical aid and water but a peshmerga guard said he had to wait until security clearance was complete. That process did not appear to have started as the sun began to set.

(Reuters)

Around 700 people fled the village early on Tuesday, escaping the military operation to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State

White flags flying from their radio antennas, the pickup trucks laden with refugees and a few precious livestock snaked out of Tub Zawa after a day of heavy bombardment drove Islamic State fighters from the village on Mosul's eastern edge. Around 700 people fled the village early on Tuesday, escaping the military operation to recapture Iraq's second biggest city from the jihadists who have controlled it for nearly two and a half years. In the first 10 days of the Mosul campaign, the Iraqi army and Kurdish peshmerga fighters backed by US-led air forces and troops have made steady gains through often depopulated villages east and south of Mosul. But as they approach the city itself, still home to more than a million people, the advancing forces are pushing the frontlines into villages like Tub Zawa where residents had until this week stayed put. That will make the fighting more difficult and deadly, and prompted a senior United Nations official in Iraq to say an exodus from Mosul, and a potential humanitarian crisis could be only a few days away. Tub Zawa, close to the main road into Mosul from the east, is one of the first populated villages reached by Iraqi counter-terrorism forces after they cleared Islamic State last week from a Christian region which has been largely empty since 2014. Abdul Bassit, an elderly shepherd from the predominantly Sunni Arab settlement, said he had sheltered for hours with a dozen relatives under the stairs of their house on Monday while the military bombarded the village for hours with mortars and air strikes, and the jihadists responded with car bombs. When they fled their homes the next day, they took only their most important possessions with them, which in many cases was livestock. Women and small children shared space with sheep, goats, calves and chickens in the beds of pickup trucks on their journey to a camp for displaced people at the Kurdish-controlled town of Hassan Sham, further east. So far the number of people displaced since the Mosul campaign was formally launched on October 17 is relatively modest - the International Organization for Migration says just over 10,000 people have been uprooted. Those who head into Kurdish areas, like the Tub Zawa families, are checked by Kurdish peshmerga on the road linking Mosul to the Kurdish city of Erbil, about 75 km (45 miles) away. On Tuesday, the villagers parked their cars and pickup trucks along the Erbil highway, as the peshmerga sorted through them. Women and children were bussed quickly to the camp but men sat in vehicles for hours waiting to undergo security screening. Some of them took the opportunity to shave thick beards they say Islamic State forced them to grow after seizing large swathes of northern and western Iraq in a bid to build a modern-day caliphate. Tufts of dark facial hair littered the road under one of the vehicle's side-view mirrors. "It was hell," said Abdul Bassit, describing life under the hardline Sunni Islamists. Smoking was forbidden and carried a punishment of 70 lashes, he said. Dress was strictly regulated, cell phones prohibited and women prevented from leaving the house. The villagers said Islamic State fighters did not speak to them much and they avoided contact as much as possible. Most of them were Iraqi, they said, but one man recalled meeting a Kuwaiti fighter. "We would see them in the mosque for the five daily prayers, but that was about it," he said. The fighters were either killed in Monday's clashes with government forces or fled deeper into Islamic State-held territory. Ahmed Kamel, 31, said the number of Islamic State fighters inside Mosul - estimated by the Iraqi military at up to 6,000 - was small but their insurgent tactics would make it difficult for the 30,000-strong Iraqi force to rout them. "It could take one month, one year, 10 days," he said of the offensive. "I don't know, but I hope it is 10 days." Iraq's elite counter-terrorism forces, which are spearheading the offensive, are now just a few kilometres from Mosul. Beyond Tub Zawa, only Bazwaia village, and some military camps separate them from the city's eastern limits. But the troops paused their advance on Tuesday, a senior commander told Reuters, waiting for the other US-backed forces to close in from the south and northeast. While the soldiers regrouped, one villager recounted his experiences of life under the Sunni militants now preparing to battle for the city. Sixty-eight-year-old Ghazi Fathi, sitting alone in the driver's seat of a beat up sedan, raised his stained white galabiya to reveal about a dozen crude stitches above his waist and a large bandage on the left side of his abdomen. "They tortured me," he said of Islamic State, without explaining how. "They asked me if I was sheltering my Shi'ite neighbours and when I told them 'no' they accused me of lying." Fathi, writhing in pain on Tuesday, called through his car window for medical aid and water but a peshmerga guard said he had to wait until security clearance was complete. That process did not appear to have started as the sun began to set. (Reuters)

Iraqi troop advance puts civilians on Mosul frontline

At least 30 civilians, including children, were killed by suspected Islamic State militants in Afghanistan&#39;s Ghor province, authorities said on Wednesday.

The local government announced the killings&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;and alleged that it was a&nbsp;retaliation for the death of an IS local commander the previous day.

&quot;Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed a Daesh (IS) commander yesterday. Daesh fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds,&quot;&nbsp;Ghor governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP.

&quot;Their dead bodies were found by local people this (Wednesday) &nbsp;morning,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

Although the local government has blamed Islamic State members for the attack, the militant group has not claimed responsibility for the attack so far.&nbsp;

The civilians were abducted&nbsp;from north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor, late on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The militant group is slowly extending its reach in Afghanistan and becoming&nbsp;a direct competition to the Afghan Taliban.&nbsp;

Islamic State has continued to wage deadly assaults in the country despite President Ashraf Ghani declaring in March that they had driven out the group from the country after months-long operation. &nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Ghor governor Nasir Khazeh has accused IS of revenge attack after one of their local commanders was killed on Tuesday

At least 30 civilians, including children, were killed by suspected Islamic State militants in Afghanistan's Ghor province, authorities said on Wednesday. The local government announced the killings on Wednesday and alleged that it was a retaliation for the death of an IS local commander the previous day. "Our security forces with the help of locals conducted an operation and killed a Daesh (IS) commander yesterday. Daesh fighters in return abducted around 30 villagers, mostly shepherds," Ghor governor Nasir Khazeh told AFP. "Their dead bodies were found by local people this (Wednesday) morning," he added. Although the local government has blamed Islamic State members for the attack, the militant group has not claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The civilians were abducted from north of Firoz Koh, the capital of Ghor, late on Tuesday. The militant group is slowly extending its reach in Afghanistan and becoming a direct competition to the Afghan Taliban. Islamic State has continued to wage deadly assaults in the country despite President Ashraf Ghani declaring in March that they had driven out the group from the country after months-long operation. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Afghanistan: 30 civilians abducted, killed by suspected Islamic State militants

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

In other news,&nbsp;US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

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French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria.&nbsp;

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Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec&nbsp;13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/three-indian-students-murdered-in-canada-says-new-delhi-783790">'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi</a>

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India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/parents-of-kolkata-rape-murder-victim-slam-failing-system-after-sandip-ghosh-one-other-granted-bail-783797">Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail</a>

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The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at&nbsp;RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of&nbsp;Kolkata&nbsp;expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two&nbsp;accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13).

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-can-influence-putin-on-peace-estonia-fm-margus-tsahkna-783707">India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna</a>

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Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/drones-seen-in-new-jersey-white-house-says-no-proof-that-sightings-pose-national-security-threat-783775">Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat</a>

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The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jamaica-proposes-bill-to-remove-king-charles-as-head-state-and-become-a-republic-783796">Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic</a>

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In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/champions-trophy-2025-icc-approves-hybird-model-after-long-saga-india-to-play-in-dubai-report-783784">Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report</a>

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The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/actor-allu-arjun-granted-bail-from-high-court-783754">Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case</a>

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Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.&nbsp;

Slamming Clinton's policy on Syria, Trump warned that her plan could 'drag the US into a world war against Russia'

French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. In other news, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Click on the headlines to read more: Who is Francois Bayrou? The new French PM set to battle the political chaos French President Emmanuel Macron appointed veteran centrist François Bayrou as the new prime minister on Friday (Dec 13) following the collapse of the previous government of PM Michel Barnier. West Asia crisis: Blinken vows to work with Iraq against IS US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a surprise visit to Iraq on Friday (Dec 13) and pledged to work with Baghdad to ensure no resurgence of the Islamic State group after the former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad regime's ouster from Syria. Russian airstrike targets Ukraine’s energy system in retaliation for US-supplied missile use Russia carried out a major aerial strike on Ukraine on Friday (Dec 13) morning, deploying cruise missiles and drones to target energy infrastructure, particularly in the western border regions. The attack is part of a renewed campaign against Ukraine’s electricity network, which has already caused extended power outages for millions of civilians. 'Terrible tragedies': Three Indian students killed in Canada, says New Delhi India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday (Dec 13) that three Indian students were murdered in Canada in the last week or so, adding, it was in touch with the victims' families and the local authorities to ensure a thorough investigation. Parents of murdered RG Kar doctor slam system after ex-principal gets bail The parents of the junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the Indian city of Kolkata expressed their heartbreak and disappointment after two accused in the case were granted bail on Friday (Dec 13). India can influence Putin on peace: Estonia FM Margus Tsahkna Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has emphasised that India can influence Russian President Vladimir Putin for peace as the war in Ukraine enters its third year in 2025. Drones seen in New Jersey: White House says no proof that sightings pose national security threat The White House on Friday (Dec 13) said that the United States (US) administration had no evidence that the recent drone sightings in the US state of New Jersey posed a national security or a public safety threat. Jamaica proposes bill to remove King Charles as head state and become a republic In the first step to remove King Charles as head state and become a country republic, the Jamaican government presented a bill in parliament on Wednesday (Dec 11) to abolish the constitutional monarchy. Champions Trophy 2025: ICC approves hybrid model after long saga - Report The saga surrounding the Champions Trophy 2025 is over as the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved the hybrid mode, meaning India will not travel to Pakistan for the coveted tournament. Actor Allu Arjun granted bail from High court in Pushpa 2 stampede case Actor Allu Arjun has been granted interim bail from the High Court in connection with the death of a woman in Hyderabad. Earlier in the day (Dec 13), the Pushpa 2 actor was arrested in a case filed against him for causing a stampede-like situation that resulted in the death of a woman.

Hillary Clinton's policies could spark World War III: Trump

Criticising Clinton's foreign policy on Syria, Trump warned that her plan could 'drag the US into a world war against Russia'

In yet another attack on his rival Hillary Clinton, US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said her plan for Syria would "lead to World War Three". Trump lambasted her foreign policies, saying his Democratic rival could "drag the United States into a world war against military forces from nuclear-armed Russia" with her aggressive posturing towards resolving the Syrian conflict. Clinton had earlier called for the establishment of a no-fly zone and "safe zones" on the ground to protect non-combatants, which analysts fear could risk putting the US into direct conflict with Russian fighter jets. "What we should do is focus on ISIS. We should not be focusing on Syria. You’re going to end up in World War Three over Syria if we listen to Hillary Clinton," Trump said. "You’re not fighting Syria any more, you’re fighting Syria, Russia and Iran, all right? Russia is a nuclear country, but a country where the nukes work as opposed to other countries that talk," he added. Trump questioned how Clinton would negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin after demonising him. If she wins the presidency, "how she is going to go back and negotiate with this man who she has made to be so evil," he asked. In an interview that focused largely on international policies, Trump said Washington should give higher importance to defeating the Islamic State than persuading Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down, deviating from a long-held goal of the United States. "Assad is secondary, to me, to ISIS," he said. Next, Trump aimed his criticism at the US President. He blamed Barack Obama for the deterioration of ties with the Philippines, saying the president "wants to focus on his golf game" rather than engage with world leaders. With two weeks left until the Election Day, Trump is trailing in the polls. He bemoaned a lack of Republican unity behind his candidacy and said he would easily win the election if the party would support him. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Trump: Clinton's policies could spark World War Three

A wide network of &#39;well-equipped&#39; tunnels have been discovered in several villages and towns located on the northeast corridor to Mosul, in the areas surrounding Bashiqa town as Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army up the ante to reclaim Mosul, the last Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Iraq.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Fully equipped with electricity, mattresses, food and everything that may be needed to survive for months, these tunnels have served as hideouts for the IS terrorists during the attacks.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Offensive could last for months if Mosul is riddled with &#39;well-equipped&#39;&nbsp;tunnels&nbsp;

 
Interestingly, underground tunnels are a very effective war technique which the North Vietnamese soldiers used during the Vietnam War. The resistance fighters known as the Viet Cong were able to defeat the US Army despite having less than one-third of their soldiers.

&nbsp;

To the Islamic State, an appropriate network of underground tunnels gives a chance to the terrorists to find a shelter for themselves and hide their weapons and ammunitions during airstrikes.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Countering the&nbsp;airstrikes may not be an option for the Islamic State, however, the terrorists try to survive the attacks by trying to get more time to fight back.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

These tunnels link several buildings inside the towns, allowing the IS terrorists to move from one post to another without being seen. This allows them to manage, for instance, several mortar emplacements with a few men running from one building to another, always undercover.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

If Mosul has truly been riddled with an extensive network of tunnels, the Mosul offensive could last for months.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that the city is densely constructed and &nbsp;the small lanes already offer an ideal shelter for the&nbsp;urban guerrilla.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The equipped tunnels also add an element of surprise to the battle: terrorists could pop up and attack from behind a group of vehicles patrolling the city without being noticed, and then disappear and do the same in another area.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Further, individuating tunnels in advance is quite difficult. As reported by Fox News, debris generated while excavating have been sealed inside houses in order to hide the entrances and protect them from the&nbsp;possible airstrikes.

&nbsp;

Arguably, knowledge of the different tactics that IS is leveraging can help Iraqi Army in understanding the&nbsp;enemy better.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is not an improvised guerrilla mob, but a well-organised entity with many fighters coming from former dictator Saddam Hussain&rsquo;s army ranks, who are tactically and military prepared to unconventional warfare.

&nbsp;

Many of the tunnels have also been booby-trapped, probably anticipating the retreat.

&nbsp;

Leveraging tactics&nbsp;

 
Even after their &#39;eventual defeat&#39;, the IS aims to create maximum damage by leveraging tactics such as disseminating the towns with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in everyday essentials.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Once a town is capitulating, terrorists launch themselves against the lines driving car bombs, which can become incredibly ready weapons if not stopped and detonated in time.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Many of the towns that were conquered by Peshmerga and Iraqi Army in the first week of operations were mostly inhabited and were used mainly as military posts.

&nbsp;

In the towns closer to Mosul, where a significant number of civilians still live, car bombs and booby trucks &nbsp;can definitely result in a high number of casualties if attacks are carried out within the towns.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

IS &nbsp;uses the same logic when it sets fire to oil fields. Recently, the IS torched the Mishraq sulphur plant, a major factory located in the area of Qayyarah, south to Mosul, where the US have their main launch platform for all air operations during the offensive. American military personnel have been asked to wear gas masks when operating close to the area.

&nbsp;

IS also has well-trained snipers and the capability of using all regular warfare weapons, which can be another dangerous element.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

When Iraqi Army abandoned the city, they admitted leaving&nbsp;behind a considerable number of armoured vehicles and weapons. &ldquo;In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons,&rdquo; Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was quoted as saying by the Iraqiya state TV.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;We lost 2,300 Humvees (armoured vehicles) in Mosul alone.&rdquo; A considerable part of the military equipment was up-to-date. It was the same that US troops brought in 2004.

&nbsp;

Mosul is a big city and there are neighbourhoods and sections of the&nbsp;population who are ready to support the Islamic State, as it happened when they first came. The terrorist organisation is well-aware of the importance of the locals and have operated to built consensus among them in the last years in many cities organising populist events as free ice-cream event, food distributions.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is now definitely clear that stabilising Mosul will not be easy. As regular troops will enter the city, an underground resistance is likely to take place that will prompt the forces to constantly patrol the streets day and night. &nbsp;The long-term operation will require many men.

&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

Knowledge of different tactics that IS leverages can help Iraqi army in understanding the enemy

A wide network of 'well-equipped' tunnels have been discovered in several villages and towns located on the northeast corridor to Mosul, in the areas surrounding Bashiqa town as Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi Army up the ante to reclaim Mosul, the last Islamic State (IS) stronghold in Iraq. Fully equipped with electricity, mattresses, food and everything that may be needed to survive for months, these tunnels have served as hideouts for the IS terrorists during the attacks. Offensive could last for months if Mosul is riddled with 'well-equipped' tunnels Interestingly, underground tunnels are a very effective war technique which the North Vietnamese soldiers used during the Vietnam War. The resistance fighters known as the Viet Cong were able to defeat the US Army despite having less than one-third of their soldiers. To the Islamic State, an appropriate network of underground tunnels gives a chance to the terrorists to find a shelter for themselves and hide their weapons and ammunitions during airstrikes. Countering the airstrikes may not be an option for the Islamic State, however, the terrorists try to survive the attacks by trying to get more time to fight back. These tunnels link several buildings inside the towns, allowing the IS terrorists to move from one post to another without being seen. This allows them to manage, for instance, several mortar emplacements with a few men running from one building to another, always undercover. If Mosul has truly been riddled with an extensive network of tunnels, the Mosul offensive could last for months. It's pertinent to mention that the city is densely constructed and the small lanes already offer an ideal shelter for the urban guerrilla. The equipped tunnels also add an element of surprise to the battle: terrorists could pop up and attack from behind a group of vehicles patrolling the city without being noticed, and then disappear and do the same in another area. Further, individuating tunnels in advance is quite difficult. As reported by Fox News, debris generated while excavating have been sealed inside houses in order to hide the entrances and protect them from the possible airstrikes. Arguably, knowledge of the different tactics that IS is leveraging can help Iraqi Army in understanding the enemy better. It is not an improvised guerrilla mob, but a well-organised entity with many fighters coming from former dictator Saddam Hussain’s army ranks, who are tactically and military prepared to unconventional warfare. Many of the tunnels have also been booby-trapped, probably anticipating the retreat. Leveraging tactics Even after their 'eventual defeat', the IS aims to create maximum damage by leveraging tactics such as disseminating the towns with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) hidden in everyday essentials. Once a town is capitulating, terrorists launch themselves against the lines driving car bombs, which can become incredibly ready weapons if not stopped and detonated in time. Many of the towns that were conquered by Peshmerga and Iraqi Army in the first week of operations were mostly inhabited and were used mainly as military posts. In the towns closer to Mosul, where a significant number of civilians still live, car bombs and booby trucks can definitely result in a high number of casualties if attacks are carried out within the towns. IS uses the same logic when it sets fire to oil fields. Recently, the IS torched the Mishraq sulphur plant, a major factory located in the area of Qayyarah, south to Mosul, where the US have their main launch platform for all air operations during the offensive. American military personnel have been asked to wear gas masks when operating close to the area. IS also has well-trained snipers and the capability of using all regular warfare weapons, which can be another dangerous element. When Iraqi Army abandoned the city, they admitted leaving behind a considerable number of armoured vehicles and weapons. “In the collapse of Mosul, we lost a lot of weapons,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was quoted as saying by the Iraqiya state TV. “We lost 2,300 Humvees (armoured vehicles) in Mosul alone.” A considerable part of the military equipment was up-to-date. It was the same that US troops brought in 2004. Mosul is a big city and there are neighbourhoods and sections of the population who are ready to support the Islamic State, as it happened when they first came. The terrorist organisation is well-aware of the importance of the locals and have operated to built consensus among them in the last years in many cities organising populist events as free ice-cream event, food distributions. It is now definitely clear that stabilising Mosul will not be easy. As regular troops will enter the city, an underground resistance is likely to take place that will prompt the forces to constantly patrol the streets day and night. The long-term operation will require many men. (WION)

Mosul offensive: How the Islamic State counters Iraqi army?

The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday it had preliminary reports about scores of killings by the Islamic State (IS) around Mosul in the past week, international&nbsp;news agency Reuters reported.

&nbsp;

The UN also said it&nbsp;received new information reinforcing the belief that fighters were using human shields to fight the battle.

&nbsp;

UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a regular UN briefing in Geneva that the bodies of 70 civilians with bullet wounds had been discovered by Iraqi security forces in Tuloul Naser village on October 20, according to Reuters.

&nbsp;

Fifty former police officers who were held outside Mosul city were reportedly killed on Sunday, Colville added.

&nbsp;

He said the reports, from a variety of sources used in the past, were hard to verify, so they should be treated as preliminary and not definitive, Reuters reported.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

The UN?said it also received new information reinforcing the belief that fighters were using human shields to fight the battle

The United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday it had preliminary reports about scores of killings by the Islamic State (IS) around Mosul in the past week, international news agency Reuters reported. The UN also said it received new information reinforcing the belief that fighters were using human shields to fight the battle. UN human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a regular UN briefing in Geneva that the bodies of 70 civilians with bullet wounds had been discovered by Iraqi security forces in Tuloul Naser village on October 20, according to Reuters. Fifty former police officers who were held outside Mosul city were reportedly killed on Sunday, Colville added. He said the reports, from a variety of sources used in the past, were hard to verify, so they should be treated as preliminary and not definitive, Reuters reported. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

UN gets reports of massacres by Islamic State around Mosul

Iraq on Monday refused claims of Turkey&#39;s participation in the military operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State.

&nbsp;

&quot;The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh,&quot; a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital, reported news agency AFP.

&nbsp;

Turkish troops had provided support &quot;with artillery, tanks and howitzers&quot; following a request by Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said yesterday, according to the international news agency.

&nbsp;

Kurdish Peshmerga forces have complained about the insufficiency of the US-led coalition air support, AFP reported. Turkey has frequently expressed interest in participating in the massive operation to reclaim the northern city of Mosul, the Islamic State group&#39;s last stronghold in Iraq, it added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

However, according to WION correspondent, Daniele Pagani, four Turkish tanks and a bunch of Turkish Soldiers were spotted on the Bashiqa frontline on Thursday. &nbsp;It is not confirmed whether they participated in the active battle or not.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is under domestic pressure not to be seen as tolerating the presence on his soil of troops from a country many in Iraq see as having abetted the rise of the jihadist group, according to AFP.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

Turkish PM said troops had provided 'artillery' support but the Iraqi joint operations command denied any involvement

Iraq on Monday refused claims of Turkey's participation in the military operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State. "The spokesman of the Joint Operations Command denies Turkish participation of any kind in operations for the liberation of Nineveh," a statement said, referring to the Iraqi province of which Mosul is the capital, reported news agency AFP. Turkish troops had provided support "with artillery, tanks and howitzers" following a request by Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said yesterday, according to the international news agency. Kurdish Peshmerga forces have complained about the insufficiency of the US-led coalition air support, AFP reported. Turkey has frequently expressed interest in participating in the massive operation to reclaim the northern city of Mosul, the Islamic State group's last stronghold in Iraq, it added. However, according to WION correspondent, Daniele Pagani, four Turkish tanks and a bunch of Turkish Soldiers were spotted on the Bashiqa frontline on Thursday. It is not confirmed whether they participated in the active battle or not. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is under domestic pressure not to be seen as tolerating the presence on his soil of troops from a country many in Iraq see as having abetted the rise of the jihadist group, according to AFP. (With inputs from AFP)

Mosul offensive: Iraq denies Turkish participation

&ldquo;If you have this, no problem,&rdquo; says the driver, pointing at the wooden rosary hanging from the rearview mirror. He kisses it, looks up, and makes the sign of the cross.

&ldquo;What do you mean?&rdquo;

&ldquo;If you are Christian in Kurdistan, checkpoint makes no problem&rdquo;

&ldquo;And if you are Muslim?&rdquo;

&ldquo;Depends. If Kurdish Muslim, no problem. If Arab Muslim, big problem.&rdquo;

This&nbsp;exchange&nbsp;reveals much about&nbsp;Iraq. This is a country where myriad tribes, religions, and ethnic groups coexist but the outlook of their members is shaped by the group they belong to.

A quick look at the armed groups currently fighting to reconquer Mosul, Islamic State&#39;s last stronghold in Iraq, gives one a fair idea of the matter.&nbsp;

The Peshmerga, Kurdish soldiers from the northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, are attacking the city&rsquo;s outskirts from the north. They are all Kurds but there are divisions within their ranks, based on the party with which they are affiliated. For example, there is&nbsp;the Kurdistan Democratic Party of President Masoud Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by the first non-Iraqi to be president of the country &ndash; Jalal Talabani &ndash; from 2005 to 2014. And the Kurdish Communist Party (PKK), an unofficial group based out of the mountains bordering Iran, has its own militia too.

The Iraqi regular army is attacking the city from the south. It is a national army, but there are deep divisions within its ranks. It has both Shia and Sunni components, a division that soldiers tend to display openly &ndash; it is common for example to come across Iraqi military vehicles flying Shia flags.&nbsp;

The Yazidis, an ethnic minority mainly based out of the western Iraqi Sinjar province, have their own militia, as do the Ka&rsquo;kais, a religious minority mainly based out of areas surrounding the city of Kirkuk.&nbsp;The Assyrian Christians too have their own militia, formed with the aim of protecting their villages once Islamic State is defeated.

&nbsp;

A melting pot, now divided

Iraq has always been a cultural mosaic. The country, like most of West Asia, has been a melting pot of all the major ancient civilisations. Living together for centuries, they gave rise to a rich cultural environment. One sees that clearly while walking the streets of Iraq&#39;s cities today &ndash; different faces, languages, clothes, sunni and shia mosques, churches, and temples.&nbsp;

One of the many problems Islamic State brought to the region was the threat it posed to&nbsp;Iraq&#39;s&nbsp;social fabric, the respectful coexistence of its&nbsp;different cultures. (Many identify the terrorist organisation as a product of the Sunni population, and commonly blame the entire community for its rise.)&nbsp;

The mistrust, if not racism, of many Kurds is directed at both Sunni and Shia Arabs. &nbsp;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t mean to be racist, but Arabs are not people you can trust,&rdquo; is a common sentence in Kurdistan.&nbsp;

The attitude is largely a consequence of Saddam&rsquo;s dictatorship, its systematic mass murders of Kurds and the attempt at a full Arabisation of Iraqi society. &nbsp; 
Christians seem to be tolerated, at least in Iraqi Kurdistan. But sections of the Christian population treat the Kurds in the same way the Kurds treat the Arabs. &ldquo;Before, when Saddam was here, he wanted us to become all Arabs. They changed the name of our ancestors&#39; cities. Now we are suffering the Kurd-isation of our society: the regional government wants us to be Kurds. We are not, we are Assyrian and they are trying to destroy our culture once again,&rdquo; says Ultra Khado, spokesperson of the Nineveh Plan Protection Unit, a Christian militia formed in 2014 after Islamic State took control of several Christian towns in the vicinity of Mosul, where the majority of their soldiers come from.

&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t trust the central government, because when the Islamic State came to our villages, there was no one to protect us.&rdquo;

The Arabs themselves are very divided, and not only into Shia and Sunni components. Iraq is also a highly tribal society and the outlook of the tribes adds to the already existing divisions.&nbsp;

The divergence between the Shias and Sunnis might have its origins in differeing interpretations of Islam, but politics has added to the hostility. After all, Saddam&#39;s Sunni-led regime&nbsp;oppressed all of Iraq&#39;s other groups for 30 years.

The 2003 US-led war divided Iraqi society further. It overthrew Saddam&rsquo;s regime without providing a reliable replacement, nor a plan to manage the country. That led to years of sectarian violence, dividing Iraqi society even more, and giving terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda and Islamic State the opportunity to present themselves as political alternatives to the chaos the Americans left in their wake.&nbsp;

So Kurds are suspicious of Arabs. (The several Kurdish parties exercise influence in different cities, and control different checkpoints.) Shiite Arabs are suspicious of Sunni Arabs. The Christians are suspicious of both Arabs and Kurds. And the Yazidi don&rsquo;t trust anybody. And every group has a well-armed militia ready to defend what they consider to be their land.

NGOs talk of an &ldquo;obstacle to return&rdquo; &ndash; families are refusing to return home because their towns or villages have been liberated by a faction that they consider hostile. Sunni families, for example, will not return if Shiite militias now control their homelands and&nbsp;vice versa.&nbsp;The situation is dangerously reminiscent of what happened in the Balkans after the fall of Yugoslavia.

For the time being, the one common enemy is keeping all the armed factions of Iraqi society together. But once it is defeated, everybody will raise a claim and it will not be easy to manage.&nbsp;

(WION) 
&nbsp;

After Shias, Sunnis, Peshmergas, Christians and Yazidis fight IS to reconquer Mosul, they need to come together. It will not be easy

“If you have this, no problem,” says the driver, pointing at the wooden rosary hanging from the rearview mirror. He kisses it, looks up, and makes the sign of the cross. “What do you mean?” “If you are Christian in Kurdistan, checkpoint makes no problem” “And if you are Muslim?” “Depends. If Kurdish Muslim, no problem. If Arab Muslim, big problem.” This exchange reveals much about Iraq. This is a country where myriad tribes, religions, and ethnic groups coexist but the outlook of their members is shaped by the group they belong to. A quick look at the armed groups currently fighting to reconquer Mosul, Islamic State's last stronghold in Iraq, gives one a fair idea of the matter. The Peshmerga, Kurdish soldiers from the northern semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan, are attacking the city’s outskirts from the north. They are all Kurds but there are divisions within their ranks, based on the party with which they are affiliated. For example, there is the Kurdistan Democratic Party of President Masoud Barzani, and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by the first non-Iraqi to be president of the country – Jalal Talabani – from 2005 to 2014. And the Kurdish Communist Party (PKK), an unofficial group based out of the mountains bordering Iran, has its own militia too. The Iraqi regular army is attacking the city from the south. It is a national army, but there are deep divisions within its ranks. It has both Shia and Sunni components, a division that soldiers tend to display openly – it is common for example to come across Iraqi military vehicles flying Shia flags. The Yazidis, an ethnic minority mainly based out of the western Iraqi Sinjar province, have their own militia, as do the Ka’kais, a religious minority mainly based out of areas surrounding the city of Kirkuk. The Assyrian Christians too have their own militia, formed with the aim of protecting their villages once Islamic State is defeated. A melting pot, now divided Iraq has always been a cultural mosaic. The country, like most of West Asia, has been a melting pot of all the major ancient civilisations. Living together for centuries, they gave rise to a rich cultural environment. One sees that clearly while walking the streets of Iraq's cities today – different faces, languages, clothes, sunni and shia mosques, churches, and temples. One of the many problems Islamic State brought to the region was the threat it posed to Iraq's social fabric, the respectful coexistence of its different cultures. (Many identify the terrorist organisation as a product of the Sunni population, and commonly blame the entire community for its rise.) The mistrust, if not racism, of many Kurds is directed at both Sunni and Shia Arabs. “I don’t mean to be racist, but Arabs are not people you can trust,” is a common sentence in Kurdistan. The attitude is largely a consequence of Saddam’s dictatorship, its systematic mass murders of Kurds and the attempt at a full Arabisation of Iraqi society. Christians seem to be tolerated, at least in Iraqi Kurdistan. But sections of the Christian population treat the Kurds in the same way the Kurds treat the Arabs. “Before, when Saddam was here, he wanted us to become all Arabs. They changed the name of our ancestors' cities. Now we are suffering the Kurd-isation of our society: the regional government wants us to be Kurds. We are not, we are Assyrian and they are trying to destroy our culture once again,” says Ultra Khado, spokesperson of the Nineveh Plan Protection Unit, a Christian militia formed in 2014 after Islamic State took control of several Christian towns in the vicinity of Mosul, where the majority of their soldiers come from. “We don’t trust the central government, because when the Islamic State came to our villages, there was no one to protect us.” The Arabs themselves are very divided, and not only into Shia and Sunni components. Iraq is also a highly tribal society and the outlook of the tribes adds to the already existing divisions. The divergence between the Shias and Sunnis might have its origins in differeing interpretations of Islam, but politics has added to the hostility. After all, Saddam's Sunni-led regime oppressed all of Iraq's other groups for 30 years. The 2003 US-led war divided Iraqi society further. It overthrew Saddam’s regime without providing a reliable replacement, nor a plan to manage the country. That led to years of sectarian violence, dividing Iraqi society even more, and giving terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda and Islamic State the opportunity to present themselves as political alternatives to the chaos the Americans left in their wake. So Kurds are suspicious of Arabs. (The several Kurdish parties exercise influence in different cities, and control different checkpoints.) Shiite Arabs are suspicious of Sunni Arabs. The Christians are suspicious of both Arabs and Kurds. And the Yazidi don’t trust anybody. And every group has a well-armed militia ready to defend what they consider to be their land. NGOs talk of an “obstacle to return” – families are refusing to return home because their towns or villages have been liberated by a faction that they consider hostile. Sunni families, for example, will not return if Shiite militias now control their homelands and vice versa. The situation is dangerously reminiscent of what happened in the Balkans after the fall of Yugoslavia. For the time being, the one common enemy is keeping all the armed factions of Iraqi society together. But once it is defeated, everybody will raise a claim and it will not be easy to manage. (WION)

Iraq: Everyone has a claim, backed up by an army

Libyan forces have released 13 female hostages from the Islamic State&#39;s&nbsp;hold in Sirte, a pro-government forces spokesman said.&nbsp;

The women were freed after the government forces recaptured a part of Sirte held by the IS on Saturday. Eleven women were Eritrean, one was a Turk and the other was Egyptian.&nbsp;

Rida Issa, a spokesman for the forces, told Reuters, &quot;The forces have completely recaptured the 600 block area in Sirte from gangs of Daesh (Islamic State), and now the Ghiza Bahriya area is the last pocket of resistance&quot;&nbsp;

Sirte is IS&#39; major stronghold outside of Syria and Iraq.&nbsp;The city was claimed by the militant group more than a year ago profiting from Libya&#39;s political instability.

After six months of fighting, backed by US air strikes, the pro-government forces managed to take back most of the city. According to Reuters, some militants fled the city before it was besieged.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Eleven women belonged to Eritrea, one was a Turk and the other was an Egyptian

Libyan forces have released 13 female hostages from the Islamic State's hold in Sirte, a pro-government forces spokesman said. The women were freed after the government forces recaptured a part of Sirte held by the IS on Saturday. Eleven women were Eritrean, one was a Turk and the other was Egyptian. Rida Issa, a spokesman for the forces, told Reuters, "The forces have completely recaptured the 600 block area in Sirte from gangs of Daesh (Islamic State), and now the Ghiza Bahriya area is the last pocket of resistance" Sirte is IS' major stronghold outside of Syria and Iraq. The city was claimed by the militant group more than a year ago profiting from Libya's political instability. After six months of fighting, backed by US air strikes, the pro-government forces managed to take back most of the city. According to Reuters, some militants fled the city before it was besieged. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Sirte: Libyan forces free 13 women from Islamic State captivity

US defence secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to review the six-day-old offensive to retake Mosul, the Islamic State group&#39;s last major stronghold in Iraq.

He will meet commanders from the 60-nation coalition which is led by the United States and assists Iraqi forces in their drive against the jihadists.

Carter is also due to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and is expected to discuss Baghdad&#39;s objections to Turkish involvement in the Mosul operations.

The Pentagon chief was also expected to discuss the post-IS future of Mosul, Iraq&#39;s second city and the place where jihadist supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate in June 2014.

The ethnic and religious mosaic of the Mosul area as well as the involvement of many foreign countries in the operations make any post-conflict political settlement a complex affair.

&quot;There will be a big job of reconstruction and stabilisation after,&quot; Carter told reporters travelling with him on Friday.

He said it was crucial that efforts to stabilise and rebuild Mosul after ousting IS not &quot;lag behind our military efforts, that&#39;s critically important.&quot;

The United States has around 4,800 forces deployed in Iraq as part of the anti-IS coalition advising and training local forces.

One US service member was killed by an improvised explosive device on Thursday northeast of Mosul, where Kurdish forces are leading a push on an IS-held town.

(AFP)

Ashton Carter will meet commanders from the 60-nation coalition and is also due to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi

US defence secretary Ashton Carter arrived in Baghdad on Saturday to review the six-day-old offensive to retake Mosul, the Islamic State group's last major stronghold in Iraq. He will meet commanders from the 60-nation coalition which is led by the United States and assists Iraqi forces in their drive against the jihadists. Carter is also due to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and is expected to discuss Baghdad's objections to Turkish involvement in the Mosul operations. The Pentagon chief was also expected to discuss the post-IS future of Mosul, Iraq's second city and the place where jihadist supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate in June 2014. The ethnic and religious mosaic of the Mosul area as well as the involvement of many foreign countries in the operations make any post-conflict political settlement a complex affair. "There will be a big job of reconstruction and stabilisation after," Carter told reporters travelling with him on Friday. He said it was crucial that efforts to stabilise and rebuild Mosul after ousting IS not "lag behind our military efforts, that's critically important." The United States has around 4,800 forces deployed in Iraq as part of the anti-IS coalition advising and training local forces. One US service member was killed by an improvised explosive device on Thursday northeast of Mosul, where Kurdish forces are leading a push on an IS-held town. (AFP)

US defence secretary in Iraq to discuss Mosul offensive

At least 46 people killed and 133 wounded in an attack by the Islamic State militants on Saturday.

&nbsp;

The deceased were mostly members of security forces and medical personnel, AFP reported. the fight is still is ongoing&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An interior ministry brigadier general told AFP: &quot;We have 46 dead and 133 wounded, most of them members of the security services, as result of the clashes with Daesh (IS).&quot;

&nbsp;

At least 25 militants have also been killed since the raid started on Friday, he added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A source at the Kirkuk health directorate confirmed the casualty.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The deceased were mostly members of security forces and medical personnel. The fight is still is ongoing

At least 46 people killed and 133 wounded in an attack by the Islamic State militants on Saturday. The deceased were mostly members of security forces and medical personnel, AFP reported. the fight is still is ongoing An interior ministry brigadier general told AFP: "We have 46 dead and 133 wounded, most of them members of the security services, as result of the clashes with Daesh (IS)." At least 25 militants have also been killed since the raid started on Friday, he added. A source at the Kirkuk health directorate confirmed the casualty. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Iraq: 46 killed, 133 injured in Islamic State attack in Kirkuk

Sixty militants of the Islamic State (IS), a jihadist militant group, were killed and over 18 others were caught alive during security operations in different parts of Afghanistan, said the government on Friday, Pajhwok Afghan news agency reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

At least five soldiers from Afghan National Army (ANA), the main branch of the Afghan Armed Forces&nbsp;responsible for ground warfare in Kabul, were also killed during the operations, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Weapons, ammunition and other equipment were seized from the militants.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The operations were carried out in different provinces: Nangarhar, Paktika, Ghazni, Paktia, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar,&nbsp;Ghor, Badghis, Herat, Kunduz and Baghlan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

18 other militants were captured alive and at least 5 soldiers from the Afghan National Army were killed, a local news agency reported

Sixty militants of the Islamic State (IS), a jihadist militant group, were killed and over 18 others were caught alive during security operations in different parts of Afghanistan, said the government on Friday, Pajhwok Afghan news agency reported. At least five soldiers from Afghan National Army (ANA), the main branch of the Afghan Armed Forces responsible for ground warfare in Kabul, were also killed during the operations, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. Weapons, ammunition and other equipment were seized from the militants. The operations were carried out in different provinces: Nangarhar, Paktika, Ghazni, Paktia, Uruzgan, Helmand, Kandahar, Ghor, Badghis, Herat, Kunduz and Baghlan. (WION)

60 Islamic State militants killed in security operations in Afghanistan: Reports

Toxic fumes from a torched sulphur plant near Mosul have resulted in the death of two Iraqi civilians and up to 1,000 have been treated for breathing problems. Iraqi General Qusay Hamid Kadhem told AFP, that the Islamic State militants set the plant ablaze to cover their moves in the ongoing fight in the northern part of Iraq.&nbsp;

&quot;IS blew up the sulphur plant two days ago and that has led to the deaths of two people among the civilians in nearby villages,&quot; Kadhem said. A cloud of white smoke blanketed the areas around the Mishraq sulphur plant, mingling with black fumes from the nearby burning oil wells.&nbsp;

Officials announced the fire had been extinguished but the toxic fumes forced US troops at a nearby base and the Iraqi forces to wear protective masks. &quot;The winds have actually shifted south, so, as a precautionary measure, the troops at Qayyara West have donned their personal protective equipment &ndash; continuing their operations at this point in time,&quot; an official said.

The civilians complaining of respiratory problems were admitted to the nearby Qayyara central hospital. &quot;We have had every type of person come in with breathing problems and burning eyes - children, adults, policemen, soldiers,&quot; said hospital director Abdul Salam Jabbouri, adding that the &quot;IS had set the sulphur on fire so nobody can come near them&quot;.

Most patients were given oxygen and advised to stay away from areas with high sulphur concentration. &quot;We&rsquo;ve had so many patients since yesterday that we&rsquo;re almost out of oxygen,&quot; a medical aide Saddam Ahmad said.

The militant group is believed to have torched at least part of the sulphur factory on Wednesday. Air samples from Qayyara West were sent to the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency for analysis.&nbsp;

The Qayyara West airfield is one of the main staging bases of the United States&#39; forces to support the Iraqi-led anti-IS operation south of Mosul.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hundreds of civilians complained of respiratory problems from toxic fumes after the Islamic State deliberately torched the sulphur plant

Toxic fumes from a torched sulphur plant near Mosul have resulted in the death of two Iraqi civilians and up to 1,000 have been treated for breathing problems. Iraqi General Qusay Hamid Kadhem told AFP, that the Islamic State militants set the plant ablaze to cover their moves in the ongoing fight in the northern part of Iraq. "IS blew up the sulphur plant two days ago and that has led to the deaths of two people among the civilians in nearby villages," Kadhem said. A cloud of white smoke blanketed the areas around the Mishraq sulphur plant, mingling with black fumes from the nearby burning oil wells. Officials announced the fire had been extinguished but the toxic fumes forced US troops at a nearby base and the Iraqi forces to wear protective masks. "The winds have actually shifted south, so, as a precautionary measure, the troops at Qayyara West have donned their personal protective equipment – continuing their operations at this point in time," an official said. The civilians complaining of respiratory problems were admitted to the nearby Qayyara central hospital. "We have had every type of person come in with breathing problems and burning eyes - children, adults, policemen, soldiers," said hospital director Abdul Salam Jabbouri, adding that the "IS had set the sulphur on fire so nobody can come near them". Most patients were given oxygen and advised to stay away from areas with high sulphur concentration. "We’ve had so many patients since yesterday that we’re almost out of oxygen," a medical aide Saddam Ahmad said. The militant group is believed to have torched at least part of the sulphur factory on Wednesday. Air samples from Qayyara West were sent to the US Defence Threat Reduction Agency for analysis. The Qayyara West airfield is one of the main staging bases of the United States' forces to support the Iraqi-led anti-IS operation south of Mosul. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Mosul: IS sets ablaze Mishraq sulphur plant, hundreds hospitalised

Security forces battled for a second day on Saturday with Islamic State gunmen who infiltrated Kirkuk in a brazen raid that rattled Iraq as it ramped up an offensive to retake Mosul.

A day after the shock attack on the Kurdish-controlled city, jihadist snipers and suspected suicide bombers were still at large, prompting Baghdad to send reinforcements.

Special counter-terrorism and intelligence units were hunting down some of the dozens of IS fighters who stormed public buildings in the early hours of Friday.

&quot;We have 46 dead and 133 wounded, most of them members of the security services, as result of the clashes with Daesh (IS),&quot; an interior ministry brigadier general told AFP.

The toll was confirmed by a source at the Kirkuk health directorate, which called for blood donations to assist with the emergency.

The brigadier general said at least 25 jihadist attackers had been killed so far and several others wounded, including a Libyan believed to be among the raid&#39;s leaders.

The large-scale &quot;inghimasi&quot; attack, a term describing jihadist operations in which gunmen, often wearing suicide vests, intend to sow chaos and fight to the death rather than achieve any military goal, caught Kirkuk off guard.

The large city, which lies in an oil-producing region some 240 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, woke up on Friday to find jihadists roaming the streets of several neighbourhoods.

They used mosque loudspeakers to broadcast praise of their self-proclaimed &quot;caliphate&quot;, which has been shrinking steadily since last year and is looking closer than ever to collapse.

&nbsp;

Distraction from Mosul&nbsp;

One attacker captured by the Kurdish security services on Friday claimed that the Kirkuk raid was planned by IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a diversion from the offensive on Mosul.

&quot;Today&#39;s attack was one of caliph Baghdadi&#39;s plans to demonstrate that the Islamic State is remaining and expanding and reduce the pressure on the Mosul front,&quot; he said, according to an AFP reporter who saw his initial interrogation.

A Kirkuk-based television journalist was shot dead by an IS sniper on Friday and the city remained under curfew on Saturday as the security forces battled jihadists holed up in several buildings.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced late Friday that he was sending reinforcements to Kirkuk but there was no sign of any major impact on operations around Mosul.

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter arrived in Iraq on Saturday to review the offensive, which his country and around 60 other nations support.

Mosul is much the most populous city in the &quot;caliphate&quot; Baghdadi declared in June 2014 and the operation to recapture it is Iraq&#39;s largest in years.&nbsp;

Its loss would deal a huge blow to IS and could mark the end of its days as a land-holding force in Iraq.

With 3,000 to 4,500 men facing tens of thousands of Iraqi forces backed by massive US-led air power, the outcome of the battle is in little doubt.

&nbsp;

Christian town

But jihadists have been launching dozens of suicide car bombs against advancing forces, slowing their progress and inflicting casualties in the process.

On Saturday, Iraqi federal forces moved into Qaraqosh, which lies just east of Mosul and was Iraq&#39;s largest Christian town before its population fled the jihadists in 2014, the joint operations command said.

Kurdish forces were also leading a major push northeast of Mosul but complained that air support from the US-led coalition was insufficient and leaving them exposed.

In his meetings in Baghdad on Saturday, the US defence secretary was expected to attempt to convince the government to lift its opposition to the participation of Turkish forces, who have a base north of Mosul.

Launched on Monday, the offensive is still in its early stages and is likely to involve a siege before elite forces enter the city and engage in street fighting with die-hard jihadists.

A French government source told AFP that entry into the city itself was still a month away.

A key concern is the presence in Mosul of up to 1.2 million civilians, who are trapped and unable to leave until forces move closer and safe corridors are opened.

According to residents contacted by AFP, living conditions are deteriorating by the day, with some food supplies running low and IS paranoia of informants higher than ever.

The number of civilians fleeing the fighting and the jihadists who have ruled them for two years was beginning to grow as Iraqi forces worked their way up the Tigris Valley.

Several thousand Iraqis displaced by this week&#39;s offensive have received assistance but aid groups fear hundreds of thousands could be forced to flee in the coming weeks.

With winter looming and relief organisations already stretched by the presence in the country of more than three million displaced people, the predicted exodus from Mosul would spark Iraq&#39;s worst humanitarian emergency in years.

&nbsp;

(AFP)

Special counter-terrorism teams are hunting down IS fighters who stormed the Kurdish-controlled city on Friday

Security forces battled for a second day on Saturday with Islamic State gunmen who infiltrated Kirkuk in a brazen raid that rattled Iraq as it ramped up an offensive to retake Mosul. A day after the shock attack on the Kurdish-controlled city, jihadist snipers and suspected suicide bombers were still at large, prompting Baghdad to send reinforcements. Special counter-terrorism and intelligence units were hunting down some of the dozens of IS fighters who stormed public buildings in the early hours of Friday. "We have 46 dead and 133 wounded, most of them members of the security services, as result of the clashes with Daesh (IS)," an interior ministry brigadier general told AFP. The toll was confirmed by a source at the Kirkuk health directorate, which called for blood donations to assist with the emergency. The brigadier general said at least 25 jihadist attackers had been killed so far and several others wounded, including a Libyan believed to be among the raid's leaders. The large-scale "inghimasi" attack, a term describing jihadist operations in which gunmen, often wearing suicide vests, intend to sow chaos and fight to the death rather than achieve any military goal, caught Kirkuk off guard. The large city, which lies in an oil-producing region some 240 kilometres (150 miles) north of Baghdad, woke up on Friday to find jihadists roaming the streets of several neighbourhoods. They used mosque loudspeakers to broadcast praise of their self-proclaimed "caliphate", which has been shrinking steadily since last year and is looking closer than ever to collapse. Distraction from Mosul One attacker captured by the Kurdish security services on Friday claimed that the Kirkuk raid was planned by IS supremo Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a diversion from the offensive on Mosul. "Today's attack was one of caliph Baghdadi's plans to demonstrate that the Islamic State is remaining and expanding and reduce the pressure on the Mosul front," he said, according to an AFP reporter who saw his initial interrogation. A Kirkuk-based television journalist was shot dead by an IS sniper on Friday and the city remained under curfew on Saturday as the security forces battled jihadists holed up in several buildings. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced late Friday that he was sending reinforcements to Kirkuk but there was no sign of any major impact on operations around Mosul. Pentagon chief Ashton Carter arrived in Iraq on Saturday to review the offensive, which his country and around 60 other nations support. Mosul is much the most populous city in the "caliphate" Baghdadi declared in June 2014 and the operation to recapture it is Iraq's largest in years. Its loss would deal a huge blow to IS and could mark the end of its days as a land-holding force in Iraq. With 3,000 to 4,500 men facing tens of thousands of Iraqi forces backed by massive US-led air power, the outcome of the battle is in little doubt. Christian town But jihadists have been launching dozens of suicide car bombs against advancing forces, slowing their progress and inflicting casualties in the process. On Saturday, Iraqi federal forces moved into Qaraqosh, which lies just east of Mosul and was Iraq's largest Christian town before its population fled the jihadists in 2014, the joint operations command said. Kurdish forces were also leading a major push northeast of Mosul but complained that air support from the US-led coalition was insufficient and leaving them exposed. In his meetings in Baghdad on Saturday, the US defence secretary was expected to attempt to convince the government to lift its opposition to the participation of Turkish forces, who have a base north of Mosul. Launched on Monday, the offensive is still in its early stages and is likely to involve a siege before elite forces enter the city and engage in street fighting with die-hard jihadists. A French government source told AFP that entry into the city itself was still a month away. A key concern is the presence in Mosul of up to 1.2 million civilians, who are trapped and unable to leave until forces move closer and safe corridors are opened. According to residents contacted by AFP, living conditions are deteriorating by the day, with some food supplies running low and IS paranoia of informants higher than ever. The number of civilians fleeing the fighting and the jihadists who have ruled them for two years was beginning to grow as Iraqi forces worked their way up the Tigris Valley. Several thousand Iraqis displaced by this week's offensive have received assistance but aid groups fear hundreds of thousands could be forced to flee in the coming weeks. With winter looming and relief organisations already stretched by the presence in the country of more than three million displaced people, the predicted exodus from Mosul would spark Iraq's worst humanitarian emergency in years. (AFP)

Kirkuk: Iraqi forces in fierce clashes with Islamic State

At least 16 have been killed in a&nbsp;suicide attack by Islamic State militants at a power plant and several government buildings in Iraq&#39;s northern Kirkuk city, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The militants attacked the site of the plant in the early morning&nbsp;hours, Reuters quoted security officials as saying. The power plant was being built by an Iranian company.&nbsp;

Dibis&#39; mayor Abdullah Nureddin al-Salehi told AFP,&nbsp;&quot;three suicide bombers attacked the power plant at around 6:00 am, killing 12 Iraqi administrators and engineers and four Iranian technicians.&quot;

A police lieutenant confirmed the death toll. Security forces confronted the attackers and killed one of the bombers before he detonated his suicide&nbsp;vest. The other two blew themselves up when security forces surrounded them, al-Salehi added.&nbsp;

A few hours before this&nbsp;attack, at around 3:00 am, another group of suicide attackers, also armed with rifles, hit at multiple locations in Kirkuk, including the police&nbsp;headquarters,&nbsp;a Kurdish intelligence officer told AFP.&nbsp;

&quot;The security forces managed to shoot one of them dead, the other three blew themselves up,&quot; he said.&nbsp;

The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in online statements.&nbsp;

The electricity supply and crude oil production were not targeted and supply continues, Reuters quotes the&nbsp;security&nbsp;sources as saying.&nbsp;

A total curfew has been imposed on the city.&nbsp;

This story will be updated as more&nbsp;information comes to light.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

Dibis' mayor said three suicide bombers attacked a power plant, killing 12 Iraqi administrators and engineers, and four Iranian technicians

At least 16 have been killed in a suicide attack by Islamic State militants at a power plant and several government buildings in Iraq's northern Kirkuk city, AFP reported. The militants attacked the site of the plant in the early morning hours, Reuters quoted security officials as saying. The power plant was being built by an Iranian company. Dibis' mayor Abdullah Nureddin al-Salehi told AFP, "three suicide bombers attacked the power plant at around 6:00 am, killing 12 Iraqi administrators and engineers and four Iranian technicians." A police lieutenant confirmed the death toll. Security forces confronted the attackers and killed one of the bombers before he detonated his suicide vest. The other two blew themselves up when security forces surrounded them, al-Salehi added. A few hours before this attack, at around 3:00 am, another group of suicide attackers, also armed with rifles, hit at multiple locations in Kirkuk, including the police headquarters, a Kurdish intelligence officer told AFP. "The security forces managed to shoot one of them dead, the other three blew themselves up," he said. The militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in online statements. The electricity supply and crude oil production were not targeted and supply continues, Reuters quotes the security sources as saying. A total curfew has been imposed on the city. This story will be updated as more information comes to light. (WION with inputs from agencies)

IS suicide attack kills at least 16 in northern Iraq

Islamic State commandos launched an attack on Kirkuk, an important city located south of Mosul, currently under a territorial dispute between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish Regional Government.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
IS attacked a power plant located in Dubis, a town approximately 40 kilometres from Kirkuk, with car bombs. According to official figures, 18 employees died in the attack.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
According to Kurdish media group, Rudaw&nbsp;Media Network, a sniper blew himself up in front of the hotel where he was hiding.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The action could be considered an attack rather than a counter-attack. Kirkuk was considered to be a safe city, under full control of Kurdish security forces. It is most likely an action planned by the IS in order to divert military personnel from the main frontline. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Yesterday, Peshmerga forces launched a major offensive aiming to reconquer the city of Bashiqa, and encountered significant resistance, resulting in an unconfirmed number of deaths. Unofficial reports speak about figures close to 100.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
WION sources within the city walls said many citizens joined the security forces with their own weapons in order to intensify the patrolling and prevent further IS actions. Many of the organisations present in Iraqi Kurdistan are also present with their own soldiers in Kirkuk. Among the others, guerrilla fighters of the Worker&rsquo;s Kurdistan Party (PKK), an organisation labelled as terrorist both by Turkey and the US, have also joined.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Several parts of the cities are under strict curfew and people have been asked by the security forces not to leave their homes. Checkpoints to reach the city have been blocked and only military personnel are allowed to enter Kirkuk.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Mosques have been closed during the day in order to avoid every possible risk, especially&nbsp;after the end of the Friday prayers, when a significant number of people leave&nbsp;the places of worship. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The attack against Kirkuk poses questions about IS&#39;s action in the coming weeks. The Mosul offensive was a long awaited one and probably gave enough time to the Islamist terrorist group to organise such an action.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
It is still not clear whether the IS attack in Kirkuk is a sign of strength or weakness. Official figures of the number of fighters IS has deployed to defend Mosul and its surroundings vary widely. &nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The IS is most likely aware of the little chance&nbsp;they have in retaining control over Mosul, their last stronghold in Iraq. The Kirkuk attack represents a warfare tactic to diffuse the offensive, in order to check the morale of the regular troops and force them into quick and unplanned deployments. In this phase, IS will try to cause maximum harm, regardless of their fate in Mosul.

(WION)

IS attacked a power plant located in Dubis, a town approximately 40 km from Kirkuk, with car bombs. Eighteen employees were killed

Islamic State commandos launched an attack on Kirkuk, an important city located south of Mosul, currently under a territorial dispute between the Iraqi central government and the Kurdish Regional Government. IS attacked a power plant located in Dubis, a town approximately 40 kilometres from Kirkuk, with car bombs. According to official figures, 18 employees died in the attack. According to Kurdish media group, Rudaw Media Network, a sniper blew himself up in front of the hotel where he was hiding. The action could be considered an attack rather than a counter-attack. Kirkuk was considered to be a safe city, under full control of Kurdish security forces. It is most likely an action planned by the IS in order to divert military personnel from the main frontline. Yesterday, Peshmerga forces launched a major offensive aiming to reconquer the city of Bashiqa, and encountered significant resistance, resulting in an unconfirmed number of deaths. Unofficial reports speak about figures close to 100. WION sources within the city walls said many citizens joined the security forces with their own weapons in order to intensify the patrolling and prevent further IS actions. Many of the organisations present in Iraqi Kurdistan are also present with their own soldiers in Kirkuk. Among the others, guerrilla fighters of the Worker’s Kurdistan Party (PKK), an organisation labelled as terrorist both by Turkey and the US, have also joined. Several parts of the cities are under strict curfew and people have been asked by the security forces not to leave their homes. Checkpoints to reach the city have been blocked and only military personnel are allowed to enter Kirkuk. Mosques have been closed during the day in order to avoid every possible risk, especially after the end of the Friday prayers, when a significant number of people leave the places of worship. The attack against Kirkuk poses questions about IS's action in the coming weeks. The Mosul offensive was a long awaited one and probably gave enough time to the Islamist terrorist group to organise such an action. It is still not clear whether the IS attack in Kirkuk is a sign of strength or weakness. Official figures of the number of fighters IS has deployed to defend Mosul and its surroundings vary widely. The IS is most likely aware of the little chance they have in retaining control over Mosul, their last stronghold in Iraq. The Kirkuk attack represents a warfare tactic to diffuse the offensive, in order to check the morale of the regular troops and force them into quick and unplanned deployments. In this phase, IS will try to cause maximum harm, regardless of their fate in Mosul. (WION)

IS attacks Iraq's Kirkuk to scuttle Mosul offensive

Making further advances in their bid to capture Mosul from the Islamic State, Iraqi forces on Thursday gained control of the town of Bartalla, less than 15 kms from Mosul, AFP reported. They are, however, still some distance from city limits of Mosul, IS&#39;s last major stronghold in Iraq.

&quot;I announce to the people of Bartalla and Mosul we have complete control over Bartalla,&quot; Taleb Sheghati al-Kenani, commander of Iraq&#39;s battle-seasoned Counter-Terrorism Service, told the press from the town. &quot;Its residents, its churches and all of its infrastructure are now under the control of CTS.&quot;

The IS had seized the small Christian town when it established their &#39;caliphate&#39; in Iraq in 2014, forcing around 120,000 Iraqi Christians to flee their homes.

Further North, Kurdish peshmerga fighters opened a new front against the IS with a multiple-pronged assault on the town of Bashiqa.

&quot;The objectives are to clear a number of nearby villages and secure control of strategic areas to further restrict ISIL&#39;s movements,&quot; the peshmerga command said.

To the south, Iraqi forces were making steady gains, working their way up the Tigris Valley and meeting small numbers of fleeing civilians heading the other way. Dozens of men, women and children have escaped from the village of Mdaraj, south of Mosul, the smoke from the fires lit by IS to escape notice, providing them cover.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, meanwhile, announced in Paris that the four-day-old offensive was &quot;advancing faster than expected&quot;. France and Iraq were co-chairing the meeting on the future of Mosul, AFP reported.

&quot;We are advancing faster than we had expected and planned,&quot; he said by video link. French President Francois Hollande told the meeting that jihadists were already leaving for Raqa, their stronghold in neighbouring Syria, adding, &quot;We cannot allow those who were in Mosul to evaporate,&quot; Hollande said.

Mosul, Iraq&#39;s second largest city, was seized by IS in 2014.

Casualties

Iraqi forces and the peshmerga have not divulged casualty figures in this particular offensive, AFP reported. A US service member was killed north of Mosul after an improvised explosive device exploded on Thursday, the coalition said.

The IS, however, released a video on Thursday showing the bodies of what it claimed were two peshmerga, hung by their feet from a bridge in central Mosul.

UN warns of humanitarian crisis

The UN fears a humanitarian emergency once the almost a million people still trapped inside Mosul are forced to flee by the fighting, AFP reports. No major outflows of civilians have been reported so far.

Some Mosul residents who fled before the start of the offensive have crossed into neighbouring Syria and are now sheltered at a camp in Al-Hawl. Around 500 people had entered the camp in the past two weeks and 2,000-3,000 Iraqis were waiting at the border, AFP quoted a Kurdish official at the camp as saying.

The camp is being expanded to accomodate an estimated 30,000 displaced Iraqis when the Mosul battle intensifies, AFP reports.

IS&#39;s rule has seen some of the worst war crimes in recent history and the task of reconciling all the components of the area&#39;s complex religious and ethnic mosaic is daunting.

&#39;Revenge killing&#39; by the IS is likely to be an issue in the days and months ahead, AFP reports citing the findings of Soufan consultancy. &quot;A massive effort will be required to begin to heal what is a truly fractured city and society.&quot;

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

The counter-terrorism service, Iraq's most battle-seasoned force, retook full control of Bartalla, 15 kms east of Mosul

Making further advances in their bid to capture Mosul from the Islamic State, Iraqi forces on Thursday gained control of the town of Bartalla, less than 15 kms from Mosul, AFP reported. They are, however, still some distance from city limits of Mosul, IS's last major stronghold in Iraq. "I announce to the people of Bartalla and Mosul we have complete control over Bartalla," Taleb Sheghati al-Kenani, commander of Iraq's battle-seasoned Counter-Terrorism Service, told the press from the town. "Its residents, its churches and all of its infrastructure are now under the control of CTS." The IS had seized the small Christian town when it established their 'caliphate' in Iraq in 2014, forcing around 120,000 Iraqi Christians to flee their homes. Further North, Kurdish peshmerga fighters opened a new front against the IS with a multiple-pronged assault on the town of Bashiqa. "The objectives are to clear a number of nearby villages and secure control of strategic areas to further restrict ISIL's movements," the peshmerga command said. To the south, Iraqi forces were making steady gains, working their way up the Tigris Valley and meeting small numbers of fleeing civilians heading the other way. Dozens of men, women and children have escaped from the village of Mdaraj, south of Mosul, the smoke from the fires lit by IS to escape notice, providing them cover. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, meanwhile, announced in Paris that the four-day-old offensive was "advancing faster than expected". France and Iraq were co-chairing the meeting on the future of Mosul, AFP reported. "We are advancing faster than we had expected and planned," he said by video link. French President Francois Hollande told the meeting that jihadists were already leaving for Raqa, their stronghold in neighbouring Syria, adding, "We cannot allow those who were in Mosul to evaporate," Hollande said. Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, was seized by IS in 2014. Casualties Iraqi forces and the peshmerga have not divulged casualty figures in this particular offensive, AFP reported. A US service member was killed north of Mosul after an improvised explosive device exploded on Thursday, the coalition said. The IS, however, released a video on Thursday showing the bodies of what it claimed were two peshmerga, hung by their feet from a bridge in central Mosul. UN warns of humanitarian crisis The UN fears a humanitarian emergency once the almost a million people still trapped inside Mosul are forced to flee by the fighting, AFP reports. No major outflows of civilians have been reported so far. Some Mosul residents who fled before the start of the offensive have crossed into neighbouring Syria and are now sheltered at a camp in Al-Hawl. Around 500 people had entered the camp in the past two weeks and 2,000-3,000 Iraqis were waiting at the border, AFP quoted a Kurdish official at the camp as saying. The camp is being expanded to accomodate an estimated 30,000 displaced Iraqis when the Mosul battle intensifies, AFP reports. IS's rule has seen some of the worst war crimes in recent history and the task of reconciling all the components of the area's complex religious and ethnic mosaic is daunting. 'Revenge killing' by the IS is likely to be an issue in the days and months ahead, AFP reports citing the findings of Soufan consultancy. "A massive effort will be required to begin to heal what is a truly fractured city and society." (WION with inputs from AFP)

Iraqi forces reclaim town from IS, PM says Mosul offensive 'faster than expected'

As the US-backed Iraqi army closes in on Mosul, the last major stronghold of the Islamic State in Irqa, leaders of the jihadist group are fleeing the town, a US general said.

Major General Gary Volesky, who heads the US-led coalition&#39;s ground attack against the IS, said his army had &quot;seen a movement out of Mosul and that the leaders were being attacked as they fled.&nbsp; &quot;We are telling Daesh (IS) that their leaders are abandoning them. We&#39;ve seen a movement out of Mosul,&quot; he told the press in a video briefing from Baghdad.

He, however, refused to disclose when they fled or where they were headed.&quot;Where they are going, I will leave that to our (missile) targeteers to take care of,&quot; Volesky said.

He also predicted that mainly foreign fighters of the militant group would remain since they would have nowhere to go.

&quot;It&#39;s difficult for them to blend into the local population based on the number of different types of foreign fighters that there are,&quot; Volesky said.&quot;We expect that they will be the ones (who stay and fight), because they really don&#39;t have any other place to go.&quot;

He added that Iraqis would screen anyone leaving Mosul, and attempts by foreign fighters to blend in to an expected exodus of displaced people would be thwarted.

The tens of thousands of Iraqi forces vastly outnumber the 3,500 to 5,000 IS fighters in the Mosul offensive which began on Monday.

US President Barack Obama joins the voices who warn that though the US-backed forces are making quick progress, the battle would be tough. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military&#39;s Central Command, warned that the battle would last for weeks to months, AFP reported.

Officials also warn that the IS may use the civilians still in the city as human shields. Military strategists also expect the IS to deploy rudimentary chemical weapons.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

&nbsp;

He also predicts that foreign fighters will end up forming a large contingent of jihadists remaining in the city

As the US-backed Iraqi army closes in on Mosul, the last major stronghold of the Islamic State in Irqa, leaders of the jihadist group are fleeing the town, a US general said. Major General Gary Volesky, who heads the US-led coalition's ground attack against the IS, said his army had "seen a movement out of Mosul and that the leaders were being attacked as they fled. "We are telling Daesh (IS) that their leaders are abandoning them. We've seen a movement out of Mosul," he told the press in a video briefing from Baghdad. He, however, refused to disclose when they fled or where they were headed."Where they are going, I will leave that to our (missile) targeteers to take care of," Volesky said. He also predicted that mainly foreign fighters of the militant group would remain since they would have nowhere to go. "It's difficult for them to blend into the local population based on the number of different types of foreign fighters that there are," Volesky said."We expect that they will be the ones (who stay and fight), because they really don't have any other place to go." He added that Iraqis would screen anyone leaving Mosul, and attempts by foreign fighters to blend in to an expected exodus of displaced people would be thwarted. The tens of thousands of Iraqi forces vastly outnumber the 3,500 to 5,000 IS fighters in the Mosul offensive which began on Monday. US President Barack Obama joins the voices who warn that though the US-backed forces are making quick progress, the battle would be tough. General Joseph Votel, who heads the US military's Central Command, warned that the battle would last for weeks to months, AFP reported. Officials also warn that the IS may use the civilians still in the city as human shields. Military strategists also expect the IS to deploy rudimentary chemical weapons. (WION with inputs from AFP)

IS leaders fleeing Mosul, US general claims

Iraqi forces claimed making substantial gains as tens of thousands of fighters advanced on Mosul Tuesday in an offensive to retake the city from the Islamic State militants.

With the crucial battle in its second day, the armed forces said they had secured some 20 villages on the outskirts of the city in the first 24 hours of the operation. Massive columns of smoke rose from burning oil wells near the government forces&#39; main staging base in Qayyarah.

&quot;Many villages have already been liberated,&quot; said Sabah al-Numan, the spokesman of the elite counter-terrorism service.&nbsp;

Commanders said progress was being made as fighters pushed on two main fronts, from Qayyarah and the east, towards the city. In the south, forces inching forward along the Tigris river were training their sights on a village called Hammam al-Alil, while units east of Mosul were close to Qaraqosh, once Iraq&#39;s biggest Christian town.

The US military, which is providing air support to the government and Kurdish forces, said they looked &quot;ahead of schedule&quot; but warned the battle would be long and difficult. The US-led coalition said strikes destroyed 52 targets on the first day of the operation.

Humanitarian crisis looms

Aid groups are bracing for a potentially massive humanitarian crisis with the start of the long-awaited assault.&nbsp;

&quot;Humanitarian partners are focusing on preparing shelter in three priority areas south of Mosul where the first displaced families from Mosul will be accommodated,&quot; the United Nations humanitarian agency said.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of civilians could be used as human shields by Islamic State fighters defending their stronghold of Mosul, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday.

IOM&#39;s chief of mission in Iraq, Thomas Weiss, said he also expected a sharp rise in the number of people forced to flee the city.

The agency had started procuring gas masks, fearing a chemical weapons attack,&nbsp;but had obtained very few so far.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on all sides in the battle to spare civilians and allow wounded to be evacuated.

The ICRC has reinforced medical centres, including to treat any patients contaminated by chemical weapons, Robert Mardini, regional director for the Near and Middle East, told a Geneva news briefing.

The neutral aid agency hoped to monitor treatment of people detained or screened by the Iraqi government as they flee the northern city held by Islamic State, he said.

The ICRC is in contact with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities and the US-led coalition, but still hoped to have a dialogue with Islamic State forces about &quot;the basic rules of war&quot;.

Future of Mosul

An international meeting on the future of Mosul will be held in Paris on Thursday. French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said, &quot;we must anticipate, plan for the &#39;day after&#39;, and the stabilisation of Mosul after the military battle.&quot; Ayrault added that Iran, despite its influence in the region, was not invited to the talks.

Some 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long assault on the militants group&#39;s last major Iraqi stronghold.

But even the recapture of Mosul will not mark the end of the war against IS, which is likely to increasingly turn to insurgent tactics as it loses more ground.

(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Aid agencies fear thousands might be used as human shields by the Islamic State militant group to protect its last major Iraqi stronghold

Iraqi forces claimed making substantial gains as tens of thousands of fighters advanced on Mosul Tuesday in an offensive to retake the city from the Islamic State militants. With the crucial battle in its second day, the armed forces said they had secured some 20 villages on the outskirts of the city in the first 24 hours of the operation. Massive columns of smoke rose from burning oil wells near the government forces' main staging base in Qayyarah. "Many villages have already been liberated," said Sabah al-Numan, the spokesman of the elite counter-terrorism service. Commanders said progress was being made as fighters pushed on two main fronts, from Qayyarah and the east, towards the city. In the south, forces inching forward along the Tigris river were training their sights on a village called Hammam al-Alil, while units east of Mosul were close to Qaraqosh, once Iraq's biggest Christian town. The US military, which is providing air support to the government and Kurdish forces, said they looked "ahead of schedule" but warned the battle would be long and difficult. The US-led coalition said strikes destroyed 52 targets on the first day of the operation. Humanitarian crisis looms Aid groups are bracing for a potentially massive humanitarian crisis with the start of the long-awaited assault. "Humanitarian partners are focusing on preparing shelter in three priority areas south of Mosul where the first displaced families from Mosul will be accommodated," the United Nations humanitarian agency said. Tens of thousands of civilians could be used as human shields by Islamic State fighters defending their stronghold of Mosul, the International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday. IOM's chief of mission in Iraq, Thomas Weiss, said he also expected a sharp rise in the number of people forced to flee the city. The agency had started procuring gas masks, fearing a chemical weapons attack, but had obtained very few so far. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on all sides in the battle to spare civilians and allow wounded to be evacuated. The ICRC has reinforced medical centres, including to treat any patients contaminated by chemical weapons, Robert Mardini, regional director for the Near and Middle East, told a Geneva news briefing. The neutral aid agency hoped to monitor treatment of people detained or screened by the Iraqi government as they flee the northern city held by Islamic State, he said. The ICRC is in contact with Iraqi and Kurdish authorities and the US-led coalition, but still hoped to have a dialogue with Islamic State forces about "the basic rules of war". Future of Mosul An international meeting on the future of Mosul will be held in Paris on Thursday. French foreign minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said, "we must anticipate, plan for the 'day after', and the stabilisation of Mosul after the military battle." Ayrault added that Iran, despite its influence in the region, was not invited to the talks. Some 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long assault on the militants group's last major Iraqi stronghold. But even the recapture of Mosul will not mark the end of the war against IS, which is likely to increasingly turn to insurgent tactics as it loses more ground. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Iraqi forces make gains in bid to retake Mosul as humanitarian crisis looms

Aiming to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul &nbsp;from the Islamic State group, thousands of Iraq&#39;s Kurdish Peshmerga forces advanced on jihadist-held villages east of the city today after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi &nbsp;announced the launch of &#39;long-awaited&#39; battle against the extremist group.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The operation in Khazir includes up to 4,000 Peshmerga in three fronts to clear nearby IS-occupied villages,&quot; the general command of the Peshmerga was said in a statement, according to international news agency AFP.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The latest offensive by the Peshmerga forces is part of a broader operation to retake Mosul. The much-anticipated announcement by &nbsp;Iraq&#39;s Prime Minister comes more than two years after IS seized Iraq&#39;s second city, paving the way for the proclamation of its &quot;state&quot;, AFP reported.

&nbsp;

Peshmerga commanders said &nbsp;that the operation in Mosul, a major stronghold, was coordinated with Iraqi federal forces moving from the south and had received extensive air support from the US-led coalition.

&nbsp;

Around 30,000 troops from the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga militia and Sunni tribal fighters are expected to take part in the offensive to drive an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 Islamic State militants from Mosul, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It&#39;s pertinent to mention that Abadi stressed in his televised address that &quot;only army and police forces would enter Mosul itself when advancing forces eventually reach the city&#39;s&nbsp;boundaries&quot;. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Iraqi government forces, with air and ground support from the US-led coalition,&nbsp;have launched the offensive. &nbsp;The assault on the northern city was the biggest operation mounted by the Iraqi military since US&nbsp;forces withdrew in 2011, and the United States predicted Islamic State would suffer &quot;a lasting defeat,&quot;, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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Heavy firing has been reported in Mosul after Iraqi Prime Minister announced the launch of offensive against the Islamic State. (WION)
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&nbsp;

WION correspondent Daniele Pagani, who is in Iraq, has confirmed that heavy firing was confirmed from the region after the forces launched the operation.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Operation could last for weeks: Top US commander&nbsp;

Commenting on the launch of the battle, Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the US-led coalition battling the jihadist group said that the operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group could last weeks and &quot;possibly longer&quot;, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;This operation to regain control of Iraq&#39;s second-largest city will likely continue for weeks, possibly longer,&quot; he said in a statement.

&nbsp;

&quot;This may prove to be a long and tough battle, but the Iraqis have prepared for it and we will stand by them,&quot; Townsend.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Following the fall of Mosul to IS more than two years ago, the United States led what has now become a more than 60-nation coalition supporting the anti-IS effort in Iraq and Syria. The coalition had trained and equipped more than 54,000 Iraqi forces, according to Townsend.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has termed the Mosul offensive as a &#39;decisive moment&#39;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat,&quot; Carter said in a statement, AFP reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL&#39;s hatred and brutality.&quot;

&nbsp;

He also promised continued support for Iraq. &quot;The United States and the rest of the international coalition stand ready to support Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga fighters and the people of Iraq in the difficult fight ahead,&quot; he stressed.

&nbsp;

Extremely concerned&#39; for 1.5 million civilians: United Nations&nbsp; 
Warning that the &quot;families (in Mosul) are at extreme risk of being caught in cross-fire or (being) targeted by snipers&quot;, &nbsp;the UN deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief voiced grave concern at risks faced by civilians.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted by military operations to retake the city from ISIL,&quot; Stephen O&#39;Brien said, referring to the Islamic State jihadist group.

&nbsp;

&quot;Depending on the intensity and scope of the fighting, as many as one million people may be forced to flee their homes in a worst-case scenario,&quot; O&#39;Brien said in a UN statement on Sunday.

&nbsp;

Indeed, children and elderly are among those at greatest risk, he said.

&nbsp;

&quot;Tens of thousands of Iraqi girls, boys, women and men may be under siege or held as human shields. Thousands may be forcibly expelled or trapped between the fighting lines,&quot; O&#39;Brien added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Around 30,000 troops from the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga militia and Sunni tribal fighters are expected to take part in the offensive

Aiming to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State group, thousands of Iraq's Kurdish Peshmerga forces advanced on jihadist-held villages east of the city today after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of 'long-awaited' battle against the extremist group. "The operation in Khazir includes up to 4,000 Peshmerga in three fronts to clear nearby IS-occupied villages," the general command of the Peshmerga was said in a statement, according to international news agency AFP. The latest offensive by the Peshmerga forces is part of a broader operation to retake Mosul. The much-anticipated announcement by Iraq's Prime Minister comes more than two years after IS seized Iraq's second city, paving the way for the proclamation of its "state", AFP reported. Peshmerga commanders said that the operation in Mosul, a major stronghold, was coordinated with Iraqi federal forces moving from the south and had received extensive air support from the US-led coalition. Around 30,000 troops from the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga militia and Sunni tribal fighters are expected to take part in the offensive to drive an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 Islamic State militants from Mosul, Reuters reported. It's pertinent to mention that Abadi stressed in his televised address that "only army and police forces would enter Mosul itself when advancing forces eventually reach the city's boundaries". Iraqi government forces, with air and ground support from the US-led coalition, have launched the offensive. The assault on the northern city was the biggest operation mounted by the Iraqi military since US forces withdrew in 2011, and the United States predicted Islamic State would suffer "a lasting defeat,", according to a Reuters report. Heavy firing has been reported in Mosul after Iraqi Prime Minister announced the launch of offensive against the Islamic State. (WION) × WION correspondent Daniele Pagani, who is in Iraq, has confirmed that heavy firing was confirmed from the region after the forces launched the operation. Operation could last for weeks: Top US commander Commenting on the launch of the battle, Lieutenant General Stephen Townsend, commander of the US-led coalition battling the jihadist group said that the operation to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State group could last weeks and "possibly longer", AFP reported. "This operation to regain control of Iraq's second-largest city will likely continue for weeks, possibly longer," he said in a statement. "This may prove to be a long and tough battle, but the Iraqis have prepared for it and we will stand by them," Townsend. Following the fall of Mosul to IS more than two years ago, the United States led what has now become a more than 60-nation coalition supporting the anti-IS effort in Iraq and Syria. The coalition had trained and equipped more than 54,000 Iraqi forces, according to Townsend. Meanwhile, US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has termed the Mosul offensive as a 'decisive moment'. "This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat," Carter said in a statement, AFP reported. "We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL's hatred and brutality." He also promised continued support for Iraq. "The United States and the rest of the international coalition stand ready to support Iraqi Security Forces, Peshmerga fighters and the people of Iraq in the difficult fight ahead," he stressed. Extremely concerned' for 1.5 million civilians: United Nations Warning that the "families (in Mosul) are at extreme risk of being caught in cross-fire or (being) targeted by snipers", the UN deputy Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief voiced grave concern at risks faced by civilians. "I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted by military operations to retake the city from ISIL," Stephen O'Brien said, referring to the Islamic State jihadist group. "Depending on the intensity and scope of the fighting, as many as one million people may be forced to flee their homes in a worst-case scenario," O'Brien said in a UN statement on Sunday. Indeed, children and elderly are among those at greatest risk, he said. "Tens of thousands of Iraqi girls, boys, women and men may be under siege or held as human shields. Thousands may be forcibly expelled or trapped between the fighting lines," O'Brien added. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Mosul offensive: Iraq launches 'long-awaited' battle, UN says 'extremely concerned for 1.5 million civilians'?

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