Iraqi forces move on to second phase of Mosul operation

Iraqi forces began moving toward the eastern districts of Mosul on Thursday as part of the second phase of the operation to retake the city from the Islamic State.

The U.S.-backed coalition has retaken a quarter of the militants' last major stronghold in Iraq since the offensive began 10 weeks ago.

"At 0700 this morning, the three fronts began advancing toward the city center. The operation is ongoing today and tomorrow and until we liberate the eastern side of the city completely," Lieutenant General Ali Freiji, who was overseeing army operations in the north, told Reuters.

Some 100,000 Iraqi troops, Kurdish security forces, and Shi'ite militiamen are involved in the operation.

State TV has reported that ISIS defenses were disintegrating in areas of Salam, Intisar, Wahda, Palestine, and al-Quds. The military later released a statement saying that the Iraqi flag has been raised in al-Quds.

On Monday, coalition forces bombed the last remaining bridge connecting east and west Mosul in a bid to prevent ISIS from getting across the Tigris River. The U.N. has expressed concern regarding the destruction of the bridges as it could disrupt the efforts to evacuate the civilians.

"The enemy is currently isolated inside the left (eastern) bank of Mosul," military spokesman Yahia Rassol announced on state TV. "In the coming days, Iraqi forces will liberate the entire left bank of Mosul and after that we will tackle the right," he added.

Residents in western Mosul said that the fighting can be heard from the opposite bank of the river.

According to The Sun, as many as 1,000 jihadis have already been killed in the second phase of the operation. An estimated 3,500 ISIS fighters still remain inside Mosul, many of whom are believed to be pressured to join the militants out of fear for their lives.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who vowed to liberate Mosul by the end of the year, said that the operation to drive out ISIS from the city could take three more months.

The offensive has been slowed by the concern to avoid civilian casualties, many of whom chose to stay in their homes despite food and water shortages.

As many as 1.5 million civilians are believed to be still inside the city. According to the U.N., over 114,000 people have been displaced from their homes.