- Oct 17, 2016 07H:14 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME
- Middle East
AFP
An Iraqi operation to recapture the city of Mosul, the last stronghold of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in the country, has started.
Artillery began firing on the city early on Monday, in a long-awaited assault from Kurdish Peshmerga, Iraqi government and allied forces.
Tanks are now moving towards the city, which has been held by IS since 2014.
The UN has expressed "extreme concern" for the safety of up to 1.5 million people in the area.
The recapture of the city, officials say, would mark the effective defeat of IS in Iraq.
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The start of the operation was announced by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in an televised address in the early hours of Monday (local time), "The hour of victory has come," he said.
"Today I declare the start of the heroic operations to liberate you from Daesh," he said, using another name for IS.
"God willing we will meet in Mosul to celebrate the liberation and your salvation from Isis (IS) so we can live together once again, all religions united and together we shall defeat Daesh to rebuild this dear city of Mosul."
Surrounded by senior Iraqi officers, he vowed that only government forces would enter Mosul, a Sunni-majority city.
This, analysts said, was an attempt to counter fears that the operation could turn into a sectarian conflict.
US Secretary of Defence Ash Carter described it as "a decisive moment" in the campaign to deliver IS "a lasting defeat". But he added that it would be a "difficult fight".
Battle for Mosul
In numbers
700,000
estimated population left
- 4,000 to 8,000estimated number of IS fighters
- 25,000 troops expected to take part
AFP
It was from Mosul that IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - in territory controlled by the group in Iraq and Syria.
The operation to retake the city, capital of the northern Nineveh governorate, has been planned for months, and analysts say it could last for weeks, if not months.
ORLA GUERIN/BBC
Thousands of pro-government forces have gathered at an airbase in the strategic town of Qayyarah, about 60km (37 miles) south of Mosul, which was recaptured in August.
Thousands of leaflets have been dropped warning residents that the offensive was imminent.
How will battle unfold? By Michael Knights, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
What can be said with certainty is that the liberation of Mosul will be a multi-phased operation.
First the logistical base for the operation must be established at Qayyarah airbase. This is also the collecting point for the Iraqi forces that will liberate Mosul.
The next phase will be a multi-pronged advance on the outskirts of Mosul. This phase will unfold in fits and spurts: one day 10 miles will be gained easily, another day there will be tough fighting at an IS strongpoint or a pause to bring up supplies.
During November and December the main battle will likely begin. But for the Iraqi and coalition forces the issue of civilians will be a tricky factor.
The UN under-secretary for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, asked for civilians to be protected and be given access to assistance "they are entitled to and deserve".
"I am extremely concerned for the safety of up to 1.5 million people living in Mosul who may be impacted," he said in statement.
IRAQI PM/AP
As many as one million people could be forced to flee their homes because of the operation, he added.
There are no firm figures on how many people remain in Mosul, but there were more than two million there when IS took it more than two years ago.
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