Battle to retake Mosul from IS begins

Iraqi forces have begun an operation to recapture the city of Mosul, the last stronghold in the country of the so-called Islamic State

Areas of control Iraqi government Kurds Islamic State (IS)

Mosul Dam

Tigris River

Tal Afar

Mosul battle expected to involve nearly 30,000 Iraqi and Kurdish troops, supported by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes

Mosul

Baghdad

IRAQ

300km 200 miles

Badush

NINEVEH PROVINCE

Qayyarah

Qayyarah Air Base: Logistical base and collecting point for Iraqi forces

Around 4,000 Kurdish Peshmerga forces in tanks, heavily-armoured Humvees and other troop carriers advancing toward Bartella area

Tall Kayf

Mosul

Hamma al-Alil

IRAQ

Zlican Camp

Bashiqa airfield

Bashiqa

Bartella

Bakhdida

Nimrud

Kalak

Makhmur

20km 12 miles

Source: Institute for the Study of War