Wounded civilians continued to stream out of the east of Mosul as government forces battled IS fighters on the streets. Iraqi forces and civilians alike have paid a heavy price in the first month of the battle for Mosul, although casualty figures have not been released by the authorities. - Tightening noose - ==================== Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitaries allied to the government were battling IS fighters and looking for booby traps inside Tal Afar airport, the last major objective before the town itself. “Daesh has planted bombs in large parts of Tal Afar airport and operations are under way to clear it completely,” the Hashed al-Shaabi said in a statement. Control of Tal Afar, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Mosul, would bring pro-government forces closer to surrounding IS in its last major Iraqi stronghold.

Source: Sunday Times November 17, 2016 13:29 UTC