Iraqi troops facing stiff resistance from 'Islamic State' in eastern Mosul

Iraqi troops faced stiff resistance from militants from the so-called 'Islamic State' as they pushed deeper into eastern Mosul, backed by aerial support from the US-led international coalition, a senior military commander said.

At dawn today, troops moved into the Muharabeen and Ulama neighbourhoods after fully liberating the adjacent Tahrir neighbourhood yesterday, said Major General Sami al-Aridi of the Iraqi special forces.