by Reuters
Sunday, 19 February 2017 17:45 GMT
Islamic State militants are essentially under siege in western Mosul, along with an estimated 650,000 civilians
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Iraqi forces have captured eastern part of city
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New offensive targets western side of Tigris river
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Mosul was Islamic State's de facto capital in Iraq
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U.N. says up to 400,000 civilians could be displaced
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Several thousand killed, wounded since October start
By Maher Chmaytelli and Isabel Coles
BAGHDAD/ERBIL, Iraq, Feb 19 (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi forces on Sunday launched a ground offensive to dislodge Islamic State militants from the western part of the city of Mosul, and put an end to their ambitions for territorial rule in Iraq.
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