Iraq presses Mosul assault, calls civilians to flee

Iraqi forces pressed forward on Monday with a broad offensive targeting Islamic State group-held areas in west Mosul and called for civilians to leave, the military said. More than seven months into the massive operation to retake Mosul, Iraqi forces have recaptured the city's east and large parts of its western side, but the jihadists are still putting up tough resistance. "Our units are continuing to advance... and entered Al-Saha al-Oula and Al-Zinjili and Al-Shifaa neighbourhoods and the Republican Hospital," said Joint Operations Command spokesman Yahya Rasool.