Battle for Mosul: Operation to retake Iraqi city from IS begins

An operation to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State has begun.
 
Iraq's Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says the military has for long been waiting for the assault from Kurdish Peshmerga. 

Iraqi government and allied forces is backed by the US-led coalition fighting IS in Iraq. 

Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, has been under IS control since June 2014. 

The UN has expressed "extreme concern" for the safety of up to one and half million people in the area. 

Mosul is the group's last major stronghold in Iraq. 

Officials say, the loss of the city, will mark the effective defeat of IS in the country. 

BBC