This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-39074992

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Mosul offensive: Iraqi forces begin attack on city's west Iraqi forces enter IS-held neighbourhood in west Mosul
(about 1 hour later)
Iraqi security forces have begun their attack on western Mosul, the day after recapturing the city's airport from the so-called Islamic State (IS) group. Iraqi forces have entered a neighbourhood in West Mosul for the first time since launching an operation to retake it from so-called Islamic State (IS) five days ago.
The government is fighting to drive IS from the remains of its stronghold. It comes a day after troops retook the city's airport from IS.
Heavy airstrikes took place overnight. Armoured columns of fighters have started their assault, which takes them from desert and farmland into a densely packed city. The army's assault takes them from desert and farmland into a densely packed city, where fighting is expected to be particularly hard.
IS remain in retreat after eastern Mosul was retaken last month. IS are dug into the west after being driven out of eastern Mosul last month.
"This is where the real fighting starts," a colonel leading the operation told the BBC of the assault on the city's west. Iraqi forces carried out heavy air strikes overnight ahead of the ground attack on the city itself.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, who is embedded in the area with federal police, said this next stage of the battle would be even tougher, as the streets are narrow and the area is more heavily populated. "This is where the real fighting starts," a colonel leading the operation told the BBC.
The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, who is embedded with federal police, said this next stage of the battle would be even tougher, as the streets are narrow and the area is more heavily populated.
It also includes districts seen as pro-IS.It also includes districts seen as pro-IS.
Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over the west of the city.Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over the west of the city.
The UN has voiced concern about the welfare of civilians trapped in western Mosul.The UN has voiced concern about the welfare of civilians trapped in western Mosul.
Aram Shakaram, the country deputy director for Save the Children in Iraq, told the BBC he believed relatively few people had been able to escape since Wednesday.Aram Shakaram, the country deputy director for Save the Children in Iraq, told the BBC he believed relatively few people had been able to escape since Wednesday.
He said the charity believed that nearly 800,000 people were still trapped there.He said the charity believed that nearly 800,000 people were still trapped there.
Taking the airportTaking the airport
Thursday's operation to take control of the airport took four hours, and left the army within less than a mile (1.6km) outside of western Mosul. Thursday's operation to recapture the airport took four hours, and left the army less than a mile (1.6km) outside western Mosul.
It began with air strikes by the US-led coalition before armoured columns advanced to the airport's perimeter.It began with air strikes by the US-led coalition before armoured columns advanced to the airport's perimeter.
The runway was found to have been destroyed by IS, but our correspondent says it still has value.The runway was found to have been destroyed by IS, but our correspondent says it still has value.
It is a large piece of land and controlling it will help secure southern routes to west Mosul, he says.It is a large piece of land and controlling it will help secure southern routes to west Mosul, he says.
The airport and the al-Ghazlani base are on Mosul's southern outskirts on the western side of the Tigris river. The airport and the adjacent al-Ghazlani base are on Mosul's southern outskirts on the western side of the Tigris river.
'I could die in an air strike or be killed by IS' - Mohamed, activist'I could die in an air strike or be killed by IS' - Mohamed, activist
We are very scared, and we are worried that the final stages are going to take long.We are very scared, and we are worried that the final stages are going to take long.
IS will not give up and withdraw that easily and the whole operation might take as long as it did in east Mosul.IS will not give up and withdraw that easily and the whole operation might take as long as it did in east Mosul.
I won't lie, I am scared too and I don't know if I am going to die in an air strike or be killed by an IS fighter.I won't lie, I am scared too and I don't know if I am going to die in an air strike or be killed by an IS fighter.
Voices from West Mosul: 'Everyone is scared'Voices from West Mosul: 'Everyone is scared'
More than 160,000 people have fled their homes in and around the city.More than 160,000 people have fled their homes in and around the city.
The UN said in late January that almost half of all the casualties in Mosul were civilians.The UN said in late January that almost half of all the casualties in Mosul were civilians.
All bridges linking the east and west of the city, across the Tigris river, have been destroyed by air strikes.All bridges linking the east and west of the city, across the Tigris river, have been destroyed by air strikes.
IS jihadists overran Mosul as they spread across much of northern and western Iraq in 2014.IS jihadists overran Mosul as they spread across much of northern and western Iraq in 2014.