Just over five weeks ago, Iraqi government forces launched a major offensive to retake the city of Mosul from so-called Islamic State. Jewan Abdi has been following special forces personnel advancing from the east.
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionIraqi special forces personnel wait in their Humvees for the order to start the assault on Kukjali, a district on the eastern outskirts of Mosul.Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionA man holds up a white flag as he walks towards special forces troops in Kukjali. Many of the civilians the troops encounter say they are happy to see them and offer them cups of tea, even when the fighting is only metres away.Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionAhmed, a member of the special forces, asks a man about the locations of IS militants and civilians in Kukjali, on Mosul’s eastern outskirts. Kukjali was the first area within the city limits to be entered by Iraqi forces.Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionSnipers take up a position in Kukjali. A few minutes later, they spotted IS militants and opened fire.Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionEven after taking control of Kukjali, the troops were concerned that civilians would be targeted by IS sniper and mortar fire, and instructed them to stay indoors.Image copyrightJEWAN ABDIImage captionThe troops are having to clear Mosul’s densely-populated residential areas house by house. In one building in Qadsiya, they found military uniform, body armour and a black IS banner, which they are held upside down here.Read more
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI
Image copyrightJEWAN ABDI