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Iraqi forces link up south of Mosul, tightening noose around Islamic State

Iraqi government forces advancing on the ISIS-held city of Mosul retook a village from the militants on Tuesday and linked up along the Tigris river with army units pushing from a separate direction, Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said. The territorial gain, which followed the recapture of a key air base nearby at the weekend, further […]

Reuters reports:

Iraqi government forces advancing on the ISIS-held city of Mosul retook a village from the militants on Tuesday and linked up along the Tigris river with army units pushing from a separate direction, Defence Minister Khalid al-Obeidi said.

The territorial gain, which followed the recapture of a key air base nearby at the weekend, further isolated Mosul in preparation for a government assault to recover Iraq's second largest city 60 km to the north.

"Forces from the 9th Armored Division and the counter-terrorism service liberated Ajhala village north of Qayara base," Obeidi said on Twitter.

"Our heroes arrived at the riverbank and made contact with Nineveh Liberation Operation units," he added, referring to troops who had set out from Makhmour, 25 km east of the Tigris, in March.

The newly retaken territory still needs to be secured since ISIS insurgents remain holed up in several towns behind the government's front line, a military spokesman said.