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Iraqi forces enter IS-held neighbourhood in west Mosul Iraqi forces enter IS-held neighbourhood in west Mosul
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
It comes a day after troops retook the city's airport from IS.It comes a day after troops retook the city's airport from IS.
The army's assault takes them from desert and farmland into a densely packed city, where fighting is expected to be particularly hard.The army's assault takes them from desert and farmland into a densely packed city, where fighting is expected to be particularly hard.
IS are dug into the west after being driven out of eastern Mosul last month.IS are dug into the west after being driven out of eastern Mosul last month.
Iraqi forces carried out heavy air strikes overnight ahead of the ground attack on the city itself.Iraqi forces carried out heavy air strikes overnight ahead of the ground attack on the city itself.
"This is where the real fighting starts," a colonel leading the operation told the BBC."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. The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, who is embedded in the area with Iraqi police, said a small group of men had advanced inside the city from his position. They were driving an armoured bulldozer and other vehicles, while under fire.
He said this next stage of the battle would be even tougher, in narrow streets in a more heavily populated area.
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 airport
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.
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.
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.
Taking the airport
The airport and the adjacent al-Ghazlani base are on Mosul's southern outskirts on the western side of the river.
When the airport was taken yesterday, the runway was found to have been destroyed by IS.
However, 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.
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.
They lost large areas of territory, in Iraq and Syria, in 2016.