Iraqi forces pushed into the first neighborhood in western Mosul on Friday and took full control of the international airport on the city's southwestern edge from the Islamic State group, according to Iraqi officials. The push by Iraqi forces into Mosul's western Mamun neighborhood was followed by intense clashes with IS militants, according to an Iraqi special forces officer on the ground, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Gen. Yahya Rasool, said Iraqi forces had also retaken a sprawling military base adjacent to the airport. The initial numbers of displaced from western Mosul have been low, but Iraqi forces are yet to punch into the city's dense urban neighborhoods. The battle for western Mosul is expected to be the most trying yet.

Source: Fox News February 24, 2017 10:25 UTC