GLOBAL ISSUE

Iraqi forces are reported to have taken control of the last major road out of western Mosul, preventing Islamic State militants from fleeing the city.
The route leads to Tal Afar, another IS stronghold that is 40km further west.
Government forces already control the east of Mosul and they began an assault aimed at capturing the west last month.

The source in the Popular Mobilisation, said its fighters and soldiers from the Iraqi army's 9th Armoured Division had taken control of the highway to Tal Afar near Badush on Tuesday night.
Residents had confirmed they could no longer use the highway.

In November, Popular Mobilisation fighters advancing from the south cut the road west of Tal Afar, encircling  Mosul.
They then started working to block the route between Tal Afar and Mosul to prevent IS from using it to send reinforcements and supplies to the city.

On Monday, the Rapid Response Force reached the western, giving the government control of a crossing for the first time since the Mosul offensive began in October.

All of Mosul's five bridges have been badly damaged in fighting since October. But once repaired, they could help the military bring in reinforcements and supplies from the government-held east.

Meanwhile, the British deputy commander of the US-led coalition military operation against IS has predicted a "grinding" fight to retake the rest of Mosul.

Speaking to journalists on a visit to London, Gen Jones said it would be "tough and take time" but that he was confident the Iraqi forces would complete the job.

He described the use of drones by IS to drop bombs on troops in Mosul as an "insidious threat" but not "a game-changer", adding that the coalition was working to defeat the threat, he added.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39126647