Thousands of civilians have fled Mosul and its surrounding region to crowded refugee camps in war-torn Syria, aid officials have said, as Iraqi forces continued to advance on the most populous city under Islamic State control. “There was a checkpoint on our road but today it was not there any more,” a 35-year-old resident of east Mosul told the Guardian. On Wednesday, Iraqi forces advanced further in the area surrounding Mosul and were moving to retake Qaraqosh, a majority Christian town that was conquered by Isis in summer 2014. Facebook Twitter Pinterest UNHCR tents at al-Hol refugee camp in Syria, which is housing Iraqi families who have fled the fighting in Mosul. The role would require the PMF leading the effort to take over the town of Tal Afar to the west.

Source: The Guardian October 19, 2016 13:23 UTC