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UN warns of rise in civilian deaths in Mosul opThe Iraqi army says it has recaptured all of eastern Mosul 100 days into the military campaign. |
The UN says 132,000 people have been displaced since the start of the Mosul operation in October.
Early on Wednesday, US military commanders said they believe that IS was indeed using civilians as human shields.
Iraqi officials accused Turkey of trying to carve out a foothold in northern Iraq under the guise of training Kurdish Autonomous region peshmerga troops.
The bid to retake Mosul is complicated by the fear that an assault could result in thousands of civilian casualties.
US military commanders would rather focus on preparing for an all-out assault against Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province.
Army troops and security forces abandoned their posts at government installations and tore off their uniforms, witnesses said, as they fled Iraq's second largest city.
Despite a country in disarray, Iraqis persevere year after year, creating, living, loving, inspiring and fighting on.
Al-Baghdadi may have been killed in northern Syria, Moscow says.
The deaths come as the UN convenes a sixth round of peace talks in Geneva.
