Iraqi forces dig in as Mosul battle rages

Associated Press

MOSUL, IRAQ

Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians.

“The biggest hindrance to us is the civilians, whose presence is slowing us down,” Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the special forces told The Associated Press. “We are soldiers who are not trained to carry out humanitarian tasks.”

A few hundred civilians emerged from rubble-strewn front-line neighborhoods Sunday.

The government sent half-dozen trucks loaded with food aid into the recently liberated areas. Chaos broke out in one neighborhood, where residents climbed on top of the trucks and began helping themselves.

The troops laid siege Sunday to the Al-Zohour neighborhood, about 5 miles from the city center.

The special forces later drove IS from two other neighborhoods.