© GRAPHIC NEWS
© GRAPHIC NEWS
© GRAPHIC NEWS
MILITARY
Iraqi forces close in on Mosul government
By Jordi Bou
March 1, 2017 - Iraqi forces are battling to within firing range of key government buildings, a major target in the offensive to dislodge Islamic State (IS) militants from their last stronghold in western Mosul. If they defeat Islamic State in Mosul, that would crush the Iraq wing of the caliphate the group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared in 2014 over parts of Iraq and neighboring Syria.