Mosul will be difficult fight, warns Barack Obama

President Barack Obama warned on Tuesday of a tough battle ahead as Iraqi forces backed by a US-led coalition advanced on Mosul to wrest the city from the Islamic State group.

Obama said the push to liberate the northern city, the jihadists’ last stronghold in Iraq, now in its second day, was a “major step forward.”

Iraqi forces were making gains as tens of thousands of fighters advanced on Mosul in an unprecedented offensive to retake the city from the Islamic State group.

With the crucial battle in its second day, Iraqi commanders said progress was being made as fighters pushed on two main fronts against the jihadists’ last stronghold in Iraq.

The US military, which is leading a coalition providing air and ground support, said Iraqi forces even looked “ahead of schedule” but senior Western officials warned the battle would be long and difficult.

Advancing in armoured convoys across the dusty plains surrounding Mosul, forces moved into villages defended by pockets of IS fighters after intensive aerial bombardment.

Massive smoke rose from burning oil wells near the main staging base for government forces in Qayyarah.

A soldier at a checkpoint said that IS lit the wells on fire to provide cover from air strikes.