Iraqi troops enter Mosul for the first time in years

World Today

For the first time in more than two years, Iraqi troops are inside Mosul.

Fierce fighting is underway as ISIL battles special forces with snipers, roadside bombs and mortars for control of the city. Some civilians have been able to flee.

CCTV’s Jack Barton reports.

Weary but clearly elated Iraqi special forces troops pull back from Mosul as fresh fighters head in. The mood is relaxed and the men say the advance has been swifter than expected.

The commanding officer of this elite unit said his men have already entered Mosul’s state television building.

Even though the battle for Mosul itself is now clearly underway, hidden ISIL fighters are still launching ambushes in and outside of the city.

The United Nations estimates a million civilians may still be trapped inside this northern Iraqi city. So far, they have been prevented from leaving in large numbers.

The U.N. accuses ISIL of using the populace as human shields. But as night fell the first large convoy of civilians made it out of the city.

They spoke of their relief, while confirming the Iraqi military are now well inside of Mosul.

Sumar is inside the city limits-to the southeast. The Iraqi government had said it could take months to re-capture Mosul, but on Tuesday officials said they now hoped the battle might be over in a week or less.

Whenever it does happen it will officially end the extremist group’s so-called caliphate in Iraq.


Raed Jarrar on the developments coming out of Iraq

For more on the developments coming out of Iraq and the battle to retake Mosul from ISIL, CCTV America’s Mike Walter spoke to Raed Jarrar. He’s an Iraqi-born advocate and blogger.