Civilians are being hit hardest as Iraq's military assault on Mosul enters its final phase. UN humanitarian relief coordinator to Iraq, Lise Grande said, the residents were in grave danger as so-called Islamic State (IS) was directly targeting families. Many people in the city are already facing severe shortages of water and electricity.<br/> <br/>Iraqi forces said they made gains in a new assault on IS there. Troops say they made progress in a few hours as they tried to drive the militants out of the last remaining strongholds in Mosul's Old City they still control. <br/> <br/>Hundreds of thousands of civilians have fled the northern city since the offensive to reclaim it was launched in October last year. Ms Grande said that the next part of the assault was going to be the hardest.