It is a symbolic victory in the battle to retake control of the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIL militants.<br /><br /> The state television station there has now been recaptured by Iraqi soldiers, backed by US-led air strikes.<br /><br /> ISIL forces are putting up stiff resistance as the Iraqi troops and their allies move closer into the outskirts of Mosul’s eastern suburbs.<br /><br /> Sami Al-Aridi, a Major General of the Iraqi Special Forces, said: “We are now less than one kilometre from the eastern entrance of Mosul. <br /><br /> “God willing we will liberate and control the area in the coming hours.”<br /><br /> On Monday fighting took place for the first time inside the city limits, with Baghdad vowing to close in on ISIL targets right into the city centre.<br /><br /> Artillery fire and air strikes are being used against the militants. <br /><br /> Numerous villages and towns have been cleared of ISIL since the offensive began two weeks ago.<br /><br /> But army commanders are warning that the campaign could take months.<br /><br /> Mosul is the last major bastion of the militants and there is concern for the fate of the 1.5 million residents who still live there, caught up in the fighting.<br /><br /> Iraqi officials have also voiced increasing concern that ISIL is using civilians as human shields.<br />
