The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Mosul -- News Updates March 29, 2017

Reuters: Iraqi forces battle toward landmark Mosul mosque

Iraqi special forces and police fought Islamic State militants to edge closer to the al-Nuri mosque in western Mosul on Wednesday, tightening their control around the landmark site in the battle to recapture Iraq's second city.

The close-quarters fighting is focused on the Old City surrounding the mosque, where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate nearly three years ago across territory controlled by the group in both Iraq and Syria.

Thousands of residents have fled from IS-held areas inside Mosul, the militants' biggest remaining stronghold in Iraq. But tens of thousands more are still trapped inside homes, caught in the fighting, shelling and air strikes as Iraqi forces backed by a U.S.-led coalition advance in the west.

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The Battle For The Iraqi City Of Mosul -- News Updates March 29, 2017

href="http://ift.tt/2nwKcGo">Over 280 Iraqi security forces members killed in west Mosul: U.S. general -- Reuters
Nine Iraqi soldiers killed storming western Mosul district -- Iraqi News
Mosul battle: Iraqi forces edge closer to key mosque -- BBC
Battle for Mosul: Soldiers facing most brutal street fighting since WWII to defeat ISIS -- Express
Mosul civilian death toll rises as residents face threat on two fronts -- ABC News Online
US opens formal investigation into civilian deaths in Mosul -- AP
Probe into Mosul blast moves to formal investigation: U.S. general -- Reuters
US military opens investigation into Mosul airstrike -- ABC News
Inside Mosul, a huge blast, then screams, dust and horror -- Reuters
Iraqi government 'made a mistake' by attacking Mosul before capturing Isis sanctuaries -- The Independent