Iraqi special forces pushed forward to reach a second bridge that links eastern Mosul to the city's west, which is still fully controlled by Islamic State, a military statement said on Friday. Iraqi forces have now reached two of the bridges, after fighting their way to the southernmost 4th Bridge several days ago. All the bridges have been hit by U.S. coalition air strikes in an effort to hamper Islamic State militants' movement across the city. U.S. and Iraqi military officials say Islamic State has caused further damage to at least two of them to try to hamper any Iraqi advance across the river. In Mosul's northeast, CTS forces battled to drive militants out of the Mosul University area, the Reuters reporter in a neighboring district said.

Source: Egypt Independent January 13, 2017 09:01 UTC