Iraqi government forces say they’re closing in on the last remaining parts of western Mosul still held by ISIL.
The western part of Iraq’s second city is ISIL’s last remaining Iraqi stronghold.
The latest part of the battle for Mosul launched last October was announced on Saturday.
Fighting’s focussed on three western neighborhoods.
Re-capturing them will pave the way for Iraqi forces, backed by US led coalition airstrikes, to begin a final push for the old city.
The fall of Mosul would end ISIL’s so-called caliphate in Iraq.
How big a challenge is that?
And what would the fall of Mosul mean for ISIL’s future?
Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra
Guests:
Judit Neurink, Journalist and author of ‘The War of ISIS: On the Road to the Caliphate’
Ahmed Rushdi, Director of the House of Iraqi Expertise foundation
Tom Robinson, Oxfam’s Emergency Team Lead in Iraq
– Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe
– Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish
– Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera
– Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/