Iraqi forces open second front south of Islamic State-held Mosul
Source: Reuters
Iraqi forces opened a second front on Saturday in preparation for an assault on the Islamic State stronghold of Mosul, a day after government troops declared victory over the militants in Falluja.
Elite counter-terrorism forces and two army divisions, backed by U.S.-led coalition air strikes, advanced from a northern refinery town towards an airfield seen as key for a move to retake Mosul, security officials said.
Mosul is Iraq's largest northern city and Islamic State's de facto capital in the country.
Government troops cleared two villages and pressed around 20 kilometers (12 miles) along a desert route west of Baiji, the first advance past the town since its recapture in October, the security officials said.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-fighting-idUSKCN0Z40KH
World | Sat Jun 18, 2016 2:57pm EDT
TIKRIT/FALLUJA, IRAQ | BY GHAZWAN HASSAN AND THAIER AL-SUDANI