Iraq Troops Enter New IS-Held Area

BAGHDAD (AP) -- The Iraqi army says troops have entered another neighborhood held by the Islamic State group in the southeastern part of Mosul.

The commander of a joint operations center that oversees the Mosul campaign, Lt. Gen. Abdul-Amir Yarellah, says that soldiers from the 9th Division took over the hospital building in the al-Salam neighborhood on Tuesday.

He did not provide more details but said the troops "continue clearing" the neighborhood from IS militants.

Iraqi forces, backed the U.S.-led international coalition, launched a campaign in October to retake Mosul, the country's second largest city and IS's last major urban bastion in Iraq.

Most gains have been made by special forces operating in the section of Mosul east of the Tigris River, while other forces are advancing on the city from other directions.

(KA)