Iraq Prime Minister Haider Al-abadi has said the government forces offensive into Mosul is moving quicker than expected. The military has moved into areas 40 kilometers away from Mosul.

Kurdish forces have also advanced towards the east of the city and are currently based some 20 kilometers away. The long-awaited offensive to retake the city from Islamic State militants was launched on Monday. Involving around 30,000 troops, it is Iraq's largest military operation since US troops pulled out of the country in 2011. The operation is expected to last for weeks, if not months.