(VOVworld) – Iraqi forces advanced on the city of Mosul from the east on Monday as an operation to recapture the Islamic State’s last major stronghold in Iraq entered its third week.

Iraqi forces in an operation to retake Salmani village, southern Mosul (Photo: VNA)

A source from the Joint Operations Command said Iraqi troops retook the villages of Bazwaya, Tubriq and Tahrawa after several hours of fierce fighting. Tens of thousands of Iraqi soldiers have assaulted Mosul from the north, east, and south during an offensive that began 3 weeks ago, backed by US-led coalition airstrikes. The coalition comprises 70,000 soldiers of various nationalities, of which 30,000 are Iraqi.