Iraqi army offensive looming in west Mosul

Iraqi forces are preparing an offensive to capture western Mosul from the so-called Islamic State. The Sunni Muslim jihadists are cornered in a shrinking area and are expected to put up a fierce fight

ΡΡΡΡΡΡΡΡ
IS fighters positioning snipers in buildings on west bank of Tigris ahead of offensive

Iraqi government forces expected to launch cross-river assault

ΡΡΡΡΡΡΡΡ
Around 100,000 U.S.-backed Iraqi troops, Kurdish forces and Shia militias took almost 100 days to retake eastern Mosul in biggest battle since U.S.-led invasion of 2003

IRAQ

Mosul

City limits

M O S U L

Mosul University

Nineveh ruins

Tigris

IRAQI FORCES CONTROL

Great Mosque

ISLAMIC STATE CONTROL

IS barricades

Government centre

Buildings razed to clear line of sight

Airport

2km 1.25 miles

ΡΡΡΡΡΡΡ
Sources: Institute for the Study of War, Stratfor, Wire agencies 

Picture: Google Earth 

© GRAPHIC NEWS