A ground operation to liberate Mosul from terrorists of Islamic State began on October 17. It involves the Iraqi government troops, Kurdish units and the US-led international anti-terrorist coalition. Since Iraq launched an operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group, its forces have pushed toward the city from the north, east and south, battling the militants in a belt of mostly uninhabited towns and villages. Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city with a population of 1.3 million, has been controlled by Islamic State for over two years. Images showing the Mosul offensive - in this gallery by TASS.