In Iraq, civilians have streamed out of the eastern outskirts of Mosul as the government’s special forces continue their push in the Islamic State-held city. Children, women and young men were helped onto military trucks as they fled carrying their belongings.

A man carrying blankets walks in the Khazir Camp for Internal Displaced Person, about 30 km east of Mosul in northern Iraq, on Nov. 21, 2016. After one month of military operations to retake Iraq's Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), almost 60,000 people have been registered as displaced and this number went up every day, a UN spokesman said here on Nov. 18. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

“We fled from the Aden neighborhood. We fled on foot and the army then transported us by trucks and brought us here, thank God. The situation is good. Clashes are still going on, but the army will prevail, God willing,” said Abu Al-Abed, Aden district resident.

Militants have been steadily retreating into Mosul city from surrounding areas since the battle started last month. Thousands of civilians have in turn poured into areas held by government forces. The number of registered displaced people was over 68,500 on Monday.

The offensive to take Mosul, the largest city under Islamic State control in either Iraq or Syria, is turning into the biggest battle in Iraq’s history since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

People wait to receive aid in the Khazir Camp for Internal Displaced Person, about 30 km east of Mosul in northern Iraq, on Nov. 21, 2016. After one month of military operations to retake Iraq's Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), almost 60,000 people have been registered as displaced and this number went up every day, a UN spokesman said here on Nov. 18. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)