Iraqi forces have launched a conclusive assault on Old City area of Mosul to rid it from Islamic State militants. Commander of the Counter Terrorism Service elite units spearheading the assault Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi said this is the final chapter in the offensive to take Iraq's second largest city.<br/><br/>According to the United Nations, about one hundred thousand civilians remain trapped in harrowing conditions in the city, with little food, water and access to hospitals.<br/>''''<br/>

Iraqi forces today launched an assault on Mosul's Old City, the last district held by Islamic State militants and advancing on the district from the west and federal police are on the southern front, said Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir Yarallah. <br/><br/>The UN says around 100,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the densely populated Old City. They have been told to leave the area if they can. UN said, about 230 civilians have been killed in western Mosul in the past two weeks, some in air strikes and rocket attacks, and others shot dead by IS snipers as they tried to flee.<br/><br/>The US-backed offensive to retake Mosul, Iraq's second city, is now in its ninth month. Iraqi forces retook the eastern part of the city in October. The Islamic State group overran Mosul in 2014, declaring a self-styled "caliphate" over areas it ruled.

Iraqi forces today launched an assault on Mosul's Old City, the last district held by Islamic State. Staff Lieutenant General<br/>Abdulamir Yarallah said that Special forces are advancing on the district from the west and federal police are on the southern front. <br/>The UN says around 100,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the densely populated Old City. They have been told to leave the area if they can. UN said, about 230 civilians have been killed in western Mosul in the past two weeks, some in air strikes and rocket attacks, and others shot dead by IS snipers as they tried to flee.<br/>The US-backed offensive to retake Mosul, Iraq's second city, is now in its ninth month. Iraqi forces retook the eastern part of the city in October.<br/>The Islamic State group overran Mosul in 2014, declaring<br/>a self-styled "caliphate" over areas it ruled.<br/>

Iraqi forces today launched an assault on Mosul's Old City, the last district held by Islamic State. Staff Lieutenant General<br/>Abdulamir Yarallah said that Special forces are advancing on the district from the west and federal police are on the southern front. <br/>The UN says around 100,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the densely populated Old City. They have been told to leave the area if they can. UN said, about 230 civilians have been killed in western Mosul in the past two weeks, some in air strikes and rocket attacks, and others shot dead by IS snipers as they tried to flee.<br/>The US-backed offensive to retake Mosul, Iraq's second city, is now in its ninth month. Iraqi forces retook the eastern part of the city in October.<br/>The Islamic State group overran Mosul in 2014, declaring<br/>a self-styled "caliphate" over areas it ruled.<br/>