In Iraq, special forces backed by US and Iraqi air power took control of two districts of eastern Mosul yesterday after heavy fighting in which they destroyed at least 10 cars deployed by Islamic State as suicide bombs.<br/><br/>Infantry and armored division troops also advanced in a nearby neighborhood, destroying three rocket launchers and killing 30 militants, Military said in a statement. Iraqi troops have been fighting for 10 days inside eastern Mosul, trying to expand their small foothold in the city which Islamic State has controlled since mid-2014.<br/><br/>Lieutenant-General Abdul Wahab al-Saidi of the Counter Terrorism Service said his forces had completely taken over al-Arbajiya district and were halfway through clearing the adjacent al-Qadisiya al-Thaniya. Saidi said that the biggest challenge, which is holding up the advance, is the presence of civilians and their use as human shields by the terrorists.