Iraqi troops encountered the "heaviest" clashes yet with Islamic State group fighters Sunday in western Mosul since the start of the new push more than two weeks ago, according to a senior commander. Maj. Gen. Haider al-Maturi of the Federal Police Commandos Division told The Associated Press that ISIS militants dispatched at least six suicide car bombs, which were all destroyed before reaching the troops. The wave of heavy resistance comes as Iraqi forces launched attacks against ISIS-held neighborhoods in western Mosul from three points Sunday morning. The operation to retake Mosul officially began in October after more than two years of slowly clawing back territory from ISIS militants. ISIS overran nearly a third of Iraq — including Mosul the country's second largest city — in the summer of 2014.

Source: Fox News March 05, 2017 12:22 UTC