Iraqi forces are approaching a key area in western Mosul housing government buildings as they push beyond the city’s airport and a nearby military camp, Iraqi officials said.
Syrian government forces recaptured the city of Palmyra and surrounding areas from ISIS, said the country’s general command, cited by state news agency SANA.
The commander of Iraq’s Federal Police has said that ISIS militants in western Mosul are looking to cut and run from their defense of the group’s last remaining stronghold in the country.
The Iraqi army says it has recaptured a bridge across the Tigris River in west Mosul, where fierce battles are ongoing to oust ISIS from its last bastion in Iraq.
At least 1,000 ISIS militants were killed or wounded by government forces and Russian aircraft as Syrian troops retook Palmyra, Russian defense officials said.