Mosul

Latest Stories

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, left, and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, center, greet Belgian Defense Minister Steven Vandeput, right, upon arrivals for a meeting by dozen members of the US-led coalition fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria in Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016. France's president calls on the U.S. and other allies fighting Islamic State extremists in Iraq to remain vigilant and share intelligence to prevent potential reprisals from the group. (Charles Platiau/Pool Photo via AP)

US says coalition laying groundwork to retake Raqqa from IS

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces advance toward Islamic State positions as fighting to retake the extremist-held city of Mosul enters its second week, in the village of Tob Zawa, outside Mosul, Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. A convoy of special forces advanced toward the village of Tob Zawa, Monday, encountering roadside bombs and trading heavy fire with the militants.(AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Islamic State draws liberating armies from Mosul

By Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times

FILE -- In this Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 file photo, Iraqi troops guard a checkpoint near the village of Awsaja, Iraq, as smoke from fires lit by Islamic State militants at oil wells and a sulfur plant fills the air. In the week since Iraq launched an operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group, its forces have pushed toward the city from the north, east and south, battling the militants in a belt of mostly uninhabited towns and villages. In the heavily mined approaches to the city they met with fierce resistance, as IS unleashed suicide truck bombs, rockets and mortars. (AP Photo/Adam Schreck, File)

The Latest: US denies coalition struck Iraqi mosque

Associated Press

Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, the top U.S. Commander in Iraq, and Defense Secretary Ash Carter brief reporters in Irbil, Iraq, Sunday, Oct. 23, 2016 on the battle to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants. Carter visited the area for a closer look at the fight against the Islamic State group and to hear from Kurdish leaders. (AP Photo/Lolita Balder)

Pentagon chief in Irbil for closer assessment of Mosul fight

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

clouded: Islamic State fighters have ignited oil wells outside Mosul to create a smokescreen for U.S.-backed Iraqi and Kurdish forces. A successful liberation of Iraq's second-largest city would bolster President Obama's legacy of leading from behind. (Associated Press)

Obama hoping for quick Mosul victory to validate ISIS strategy, boost Hillary Clinton

By Carlo Muñoz and Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

U.S. soldiers (left) participate in a training mission with Iraqi army soldiers outside Baghdad on May 27, 2015. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Iraqi leader resists US push for Turkish role in Mosul fight

By LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

Iraqi Muslims pray at a mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

The Latest: Iraqis raise flag over church in town near Mosul

Associated Press

In this image made from video, smoke rises from a building where two militants are believed to be holed up, according to Rudaw TV, in Kirkuk, Iraq, Friday, Oct. 21, 2016. Militants armed with assault rifles and explosives attacked targets in and around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk early on Friday in an assault quickly claimed by the Islamic State group and likely aimed at diverting authorities' attention for the battle to retake IS-held Mosul. (Rudaw TV via AP)

ISIS attacks Iraq city of Kirkuk, power plant amid Mosul fight

By Emad Matti and Adam Schreck - Associated Press

Iraqi Muslims pray at a mosque in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

The Latest: US soldier dies of wounds from bombing in Iraq

Associated Press

Iraqi special forces charged into the Mosul battle Thursday with a pre-dawn advance on the nearby town held by the Islamic State group, a key part of a multipronged assault on eastern approaches to the besieged city. (Associated Press)

Mosul advance against Islamic State sees first American casualty

By Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times

U.S. soldiers (left) participate in a training mission with Iraqi army soldiers outside Baghdad on May 27, 2015. (Associated Press) **FILE**

US service member killed by roadside bomb in northern Iraq

By ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. BALDOR - Associated Press

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump debates Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the third presidential debate at UNLV in Las Vegas, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016.(AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

U.S. military let ISIS leaders slip away in run-up to Mosul, Donald Trump says

By Carlo Muñoz - The Washington Times

A member of Iraq's elite counterterrorism forces pauses as they advance towards the city of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. Iraq’s special forces, which barreled into a town east of Mosul on Thursday despite a wave of suicide attacks, are the country’s most professional and least sectarian fighting force. Officially known as the Counter Terrorism Service, the troops have played a key role in wresting back towns and cities from IS, and are expected to lead the charge in Mosul. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

Baghdad’s Finest: A look at Iraq’s vaunted special forces

By JOSEPH KRAUSS - Associated Press

An Iraqi special forces soldier clutches his weapon as he prepares for an offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants at a camp near Khazer, Iraq, on Friday, Oct. 14, 2016. The US-led coalition says they are increasing airstrikes in and around the militant-held city of Mosul as Iraqi ground forces are building up ahead of a planned operation to retake the city. (AP Photo/Adam Schreck)

Iraqi special forces join battle for Mosul, US soldier dies

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and SUSANNAH GEORGE - Associated Press

U.S. soldiers (left) participate in a training mission with Iraqi army soldiers outside Baghdad on May 27, 2015. (Associated Press) **FILE**

Iraqi general calls on IS militants in Mosul to surrender

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA - Associated Press

While Defense Secretary Ashton Carter prepared for his trip to Turkey, a senior Iraqi general on Wednesday called on Iraqis fighting for the Islamic State to surrender as a wide-scale operation to retake Mosul entered its third day. Story, A11. (Associated Press)

Recep Tayyip Erdogan blasts U.S.-led campaign against ISIS ahead of Ashton Carter’s Turkey visit

By Carlo Muñoz and Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

FILE - In this Aug. 10, 2016 file photo, Iraqi Army Cpl. Saif holds a phone displaying a screenshot from a video released by the Islamic State group that shows his brother, in Irbil, Iraq. He claims the video showed his brother's execution. Just over two years ago, Saif was holed up in a corner of Mosul’s Nineveh hotel as he first began hearing rumors that his senior officers were fleeing the militant group’s advance. Now, he’s among the Iraqi forces beginning a massive operation to retake the country’s second city from the militants.(AP Photo/Alice Martins, File)

In Mosul fight, Iraqi forces eye redemption and revenge

By SUSANNAH GEORGE - Associated Press

A helicopter belonging to the international coalition forces takes off from a base outside Mosul, Iraq, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2016. (AP Photo) ** FILE **

US general said Mosul battle could last months

By ROBERT BURNS and VIVIAN SALAMA - Associated Press