Iraq: Iraqi government forces have launched an offensive to liberate the western part of the city of Mosul from Islamic State. Smoke rose over villages as hundreds of military vehicles, backed by air power, rolled across the desert towards the jihadists’ positions today. The offensive was formally announced by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

In television speech, he announced the start of the new phase in the operation. Leaflets warning residents of an imminent offensive were earlier dropped over the west of the city. Iraqi forces have now all but surrounded the western part of Mosul, while the US-led coalition has been carrying out air strikes on IS targets. Government forces retook the eastern side of the city, the last major IS stronghold in Iraq, last month.