Iraq forces poised for first push into Mosul

Elite Iraqi forces were on Tuesday poised for a first push into Mosul, after the prime minister warned jihadists, who hold the city, have no choice but to surrender or die.

Forces from Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) were fighting the Islamic State (IS) militants in Gogjali, a village on the eastern edge of Mosul that they reached on Monday. 

While CTS may soon enter Mosul, which the IS overran two years ago, it will likely have to wait for other units to catch up before making a concerted push into the city. “We are currently advancing in Gogjali,” said Staff Lieutenant General Abdelwahab al-Saadi, a senior CTS officer. “The next will be towards Al-Zahra and Al-Karama on the eastern side of Mosul,” he said, without specifying when that step would take place.