(5 Nov 2016) Iraqi forces on Saturday assaulted IS positions in the town of Hamam al-Alil, which lies along the Tigris river about 15 kilometres (9 miles) from the southernmost parts of Mosul.
The operation is aimed at completing the encirclement of Mosul and cutting it off from IS-held territory in Syria.
Speaking to an Associated Press team travelling with Iraqi forces, General Najim al-Jibouri, commander of Nineveh Operations Command, said Iraqi troops had "almost liberated" Hamam al-Alil.
Hamam al-Alil is the last town before Mosul on the southern front.
On Friday UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned that truckloads of as many as 1,600 civilians may have been forcibly moved from Hamam al-Alil to Tal Afar earlier this week and could be transferred into Syria for likely use as human shields.
Another 150 families from the town were moved to Mosul itself, the UN said.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
