The Latest: Iraqi forces take control of IS 'sniper' village
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Latest on the Iraqi government forces' battle to take the western half of Mosul from the Islamic State group (all times local):
3 p.m.
A military spokesman says Iraqi special forces have captured a key village southwest of Mosul from where Islamic State group's snipers and shelling had been slowing the government offensive.
The village of Tell al-Rayan fell to the Iraqi troops amid a major push on Thursday that saw federal police forces enter the grounds of the Mosul airport as special forces fought their way into an IS-held base next to the airport.
The advances are part of a U.S.-backed government offensive to drive the Islamic State group from western Mosul.
The spokesman of the Joint Military Operation Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, told The Associated Press that IS had used Tell al-Rayan to position snipers and fire off rockets and mortar rounds to derail the advance of the Iraqi troops.
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1:15 p.m.
An Iraqi military spokesman says Iraqi special forces have entered a sprawling military base next to Mosul's airport on the southern edge of the city.
The push came shortly after Iraqi federal police forces earlier on Thursday entered the airport grounds, taking control of the runway and exchanging fire with Islamic State militants hunkered down inside the airport buildings.
The two-pronged advance is part of a U.S.-baked offensive aimed at driving the Islamic State group from western Mosul.
The spokesman of the Joint Military Operation Command, Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool, told The Associated Press that clashes are underway inside the Ghazlani base. He didn't provide more details.
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11:30 a.m.
Iraqi police officials say the country's militarized federal police forces have entered Mosul International Airport, taking over the runway amid fierce clashes with the Islamic State group.
Thursday's advance is part of a major assault that started five days ago to drive IS militants from the western half of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.
Two police officers say the airport buildings are now under fire from the Iraqi police forces. They would not provide more details but said troops from the U.S.-led coalition are with the advancing forces, though they didn't specify the nationalities of the foreign forces.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.
—Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad.
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9:30 a.m.
Iraq's special forces say they have begun an assault against the Islamic State group on a sprawling military base south of Mosul that's adjacent to the city's airport.
Two Iraqi special forces officers say their troops have reached the edge of the Ghazlani base on the city's southern rim on Thursday morning and that clashes there are underway.
A federal police officer says his forces are also pushing toward the Mosul airport. All officers spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to talk to reporters.
The advances come days after Iraqi forces officially launched the operation to push IS out of Mosul's western half.
The operation to retake Iraq's second largest city was officially launched in October and in January its eastern half was declared "fully liberated."
