Iraq: Army continues operation to retake Mosul

The Iraqi army was seen preparing for their ongoing offensive against positions held by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) near Mosul on Wednesday.
The escalation of the battles in the surroundings of Iraq's second largest city has resulted in thousands fleeing from Mosul with the assistance of smugglers, across the border to Syria, where a makeshift refugee camp has been set up. Local media report that over 5,000 people have crossed the border in the past two weeks.
Last Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the military operation to liberate the country’s second largest city. The self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS; formerly ISIS/ISIL) captured Mosul in 2014 and the offensive is now spearheaded by the Iraqi army and Kurdish militia, supported by the coalition led by the United States.
Mosul is the last major city in Iraq under the control of IS, and the army has recently been working towards its recapture by liberating nearby towns and cutting off supply routes to the militants who remain in the city. Mosul has been under the control of IS since June 2014.