Iraqi forces capture last villages before Mosul airport

Iraqi forces have captured two villages south of Mosul on Sunday, as part of a new operation to re-take the west of the city from the Islamic State group.

Troops led by police units surged into the villages Athbah and al-Lazzagah shortly after Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of an offensive to capture the west bank of Mosul.

The villages are en-route to Mosul airport, which is believed to be the next target of Iraqi forces and lies to the south of the city.

The advance to take Mosul from the south has stalled over the past few weeks as Iraqi forces waited for the city's east to be cleared of IS militants.

Federal police and elite rapid response forces took the two villages - the last before Mosul airport and a major military base to Mosul's south.

The Iraqi police forces, rapid response teams and counter-terrorism units are expected to lead the offensive to take west Mosul, probably the most dangerous part of the operation to clear IS from Iraq.

Iraq's leader Haider al-Abadi announced the launch of operations to take west Mosul on Sunday, expected to be a tough and bloody battle for Iraqi forces in a dense urban area that has been a traditional heartland for IS.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) are waiting to the west of Mosul and around Tal Afar, expected to cut off a westward retreat for IS.

Agencies contributed to this story.