Iraqi troops begin final assault to force Islamic State out of Mosul

Iraqi troops have pushed into the last Islamic State stronghold in Mosul, formally launching the final major battle of an eight-month campaign to drive the militants out of the city.

The IS group captured Mosul when it swept across northern and central Iraq in the summer of 2014. Iraq launched a massive operation to retake the city last October, and has driven the militants from all but a handful of neighbourhoods.