Iraqi operation to retake Mosul into second day

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi army pressed ahead Tuesday with its operation to retake the Islamic State-held city of Mosul from the militant group, but Iraq’s Kurdish partner forces say they are pausing after capturing villages east of the city.

Col. Khathar Sheikhan of the Kurdish peshmerga forces told the Associated Press his troops achieved their objectives on Monday and "are just holding our positions" after a day of fighting involving airstrikes, heavy artillery and Islamic State car bombs.

The battle for Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and the jihadist group’s last stronghold in the country, started on Monday. It’s recapture, supported by U.S.-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, was expected to take weeks or even months.

When his football career ended, he became an Opera sensation
Iraqi government forces bombed Mosul on Monday, and by late Monday nine villages to the east within about 80 square miles of Mosul were recaptured by Kurdish peshmerga fighters.

Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook told reporters in Washington that "early indications are that Iraqi forces have met their objectives so far, and that they are ahead of schedule for this first day. This is going according to the Iraqi plan."

Humanitarian aid agencies have warned that the fight to take back Mosul could displace as many as 1 million people and that they risk being caught in crossfire