Iraqi army forces are in the process of retaking the Hadba district of northern Mosul.<br /><br /> Fierce battles are underway with ISIL militants in the area.<br /><br /> Soldiers can be seen posing with ISIL flags.<br /><br /> Iraqi special forces also made further advances against ISIL on Monday.<br /><br /> Officers in the city say they pushed militants from another eastern district and edged closer to army units nearby.<br /><br /> Images from the night raid by #Iraq’s special forces that liberated the Al-Muthanna neighbourhood in eastern #Mosul. pic.twitter.com/FC0RSkP65f— Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) January 7, 2017<br /><br /> IMPORTANT: #Iraq’s armed forces have stormed the Al-Muthanna neighbourhood in eastern #Mosul. Huge progress. pic.twitter.com/g9rf4ebatH— Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) January 6, 2017<br /><br /> Resistance<br /><br /> Officials say ISIL fighters have carried out four to five car bomb attacks in the area since Friday.<br /><br /> Iraqi forces reach Tigris in Mosul as suicide bombs hit Baghdad https://t.co/lTEjyOZlAF— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) January 8, 2017<br /><br /> Refugees<br /><br /> Hundreds of Iraqis are fleeing the recently-retaken district of Muthanna in Mosul.<br /><br /> The area is now under the control of Iraqi forces.<br /><br /> But locals fear being caught up in any retaliation from ISIL.<br /><br /> What this means<br /><br /> Monday’s advances in Mosul have consolidated Iraqi forces’ control of several districts close to the ruins of the ancient city of Nineveh, east of the river.<br /><br /> The latest advances brought more of eastern Mosul under Iraqi forces’ control.<br /><br /> They come a day after elite units reached the Tigris river.<br /><br /> Battling Islamic State group, Iraq troops reach bank of Tigris River in Mosul. https://t.co/3FFfV97yg7— The Associated Press (@AP) January 9, 2017<br /><br /> Where next?<br /><br /> The Counter-Terrorism Service says it is working to seize areas overlooking Mosul University in the city’s northeast.<br /><br /> A nearby district has already been taken over.<br /><br /> The context<br /><br /> The US-backed offensive to drive ISIL from its last major stronghold in Iraq is pressing ahead with renewed vigour.<br /><br /> The offensive against ISIL began in October. It stalled last month but has regained momentum in the last week.<br /><br /> Recapturing Mosul after more than two years of ISIL rule would probably spell the end of the Iraqi wing of the group’s self-declared caliphate.<br /><br /> This spans swathes of Iraq and Syria.<br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> “Since we began (the operation) and entered the area, we have had no losses. ISIL militants went crazy and sent mus many vehicle-borne explosives and suicide bombers,” – Major General Najm al-Jubbouri praises the Iraqi troops involved in the operation.<br /><br /> WATCH<br /><br /> Refugees say they would rather live in a refugee camp than in war-torn Mosul.<br /><br /> Despite the tough living conditions, children living in refugee camps outside of <br />Mosul are thankful to be free. mfbiggs reports. #PBSnews pic.twitter.com/MTwisF5DvW— PBS NewsHour (NewsHour) January 9, 2017<br />
