Baghdad — Iraqi forces fought their way into jihadist-held Mosul on Tuesday, the military said, as a top commander declared that the "true liberation" of the city from Islamic State (IS) had begun. Just more than two weeks into the huge offensive to retake Mosul — IS’s last major stronghold in Iraq — troops had "entered the Judaidat Al-Mufti area, within the left bank of the city of Mosul", the joint operations command said. Mosul is split by the Tigris River, with the eastern half of the city known as the left bank. Judaidat al-Mufti is on the southeastern side of the city. Elite Iraqi forces had also recaptured the key village of Gogjali and taken control of a television station building belonging to a local affiliate of Iraqiya state TV on the eastern edge of the city. Fighters from the US-trained Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) had pushed into the area amid heavy fighting on the eastern front over the past two days. "Now is the beginning of the true liberation of the city of Mos...
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