(16 Jan 2017)
Iraqi forces have begun to push Islamic State group (IS) militants out of the last remaining neighbourhoods between government-held territory in eastern Mosul and the Tigris River, which divides the city.
Iraqi special forces battled the militants on Monday in two eastern Mosul neighbourhoods as part of continued push towards the Tigris, according to Iraqi media reports and field commanders.
In the Andalus neighbourhood, bulldozers pushed aside road blocks ahead of a long convoy of black armoured vehicles.
Residents said the IS fighters had fled just an hour before the assault began.
Major General Sami al-Aridi said the retreat showed the recent string of territorial victories had broken the will of the militants.
Al-Aridi said his forces expected to reach the last remaining bridges that span the Tigris within days.
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