Iraqi forces face fierce Islamic State combat in south Mosul

Firing from the sky and on the ground, Iraqi forces engage Islamic State fighters during the second day of a renewed push to take back Mosul.

Here in the Intisar district, Interior Ministry officials say their forces are gaining ground.

Colonel Adnan al-Jibury commands the rapid response forces. On this video he states:

“The successful advance went according to a specific plan set by the joint operation’s leadership. Fierce battles with terrorist militants took place, and we eliminated them completely.”

The offensive began 10 weeks ago.

U.S.-backed forces retook a quarter of the city before fighting stalled.

Now the Iraqi forces are in a second phase, with U.S. troops serving as advisers deployed closer to the front line.

As the fighting intensifies, thousands of residents are fleeing.

The U.N. says an estimated 114,000 civilians have been displaced by the fighting, but that’s only a fraction of the 1.5 million thought to be still inside the embattled city.