The United Nations said Friday it is "gravely worried" that ISIS has taken 550 families from villages around Mosul and is using them as human shields at the militant group's "offices and locations" in the city.
Ravina
Shamdasani, deputy spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, told CNN
that 200 families from Samalia village and 350 families from Najafia
were forced out on Monday and taken to Mosul in what appears to be "an
apparent policy by ISIS to prevent civilians escaping."
[Previous story, posted at 7:40 a.m.]
ISIS
militants attacked several security buildings in the Iraqi city of
Kirkuk, officials said, as Iraqi and Kurdish forces battle the terror
group for control of the second-largest city of Mosul.
Dozens
of militants targeted four police stations and Kurdish security offices
in Kirkuk, spreading themselves out through several residential
neighborhoods. The clashes were ongoing in the southern part of the city
as of Friday morning, security officials said.
Latest developments
- Nearly 30 ISIS militants take over a building in southern Kirkuk, fire on security forces
- Twelve people killed in a separate ISIS attack in Dibis
- Iraqi-led forces have recaptured at least 100 square kilometers of territory, CNN analysis shows
- A US service member died of injuries in a blast in northern Iraq, according to the Pentagon.
Security forces surround two Kirkuk locations
Security
forces killed at least seven ISIS militants in Kirkuk, security
officials there said, but there was no information yet on civilian
casualties. Images broadcast on local television showed what appeared to
be dead or injured fighters on the street.
Security forces arrive with armoured vehicles after ISIS attacks in Kirkuk, Iraq, October 21, 2016.
Nearly
30 ISIS militants took over an unoccupied building in Domiz district in
southern Kirkuk and started firing on security forces there, according
to security officials. Iraqi security forces are surrounding the
building now and sporadic clashes continue.
The
situation is still tense in the city, with at least two ISIS suicide
bombers hiding inside two buildings in two separate locations in
southern Kirkuk, security officials said. Security forces are
surrounding both locations.
Local authorities imposed a curfew in Kirkuk amid the attacks.
Kirkuk is 175 kilometers (109 miles) southeast of Mosul, where a major military offensive started earlier this week.
Previous attacks
by ISIS militants on Kirkuk have been seen as attempts to either
capture the city or divert Kurdish troops from the fight in Mosul.
In
a separate incident, ISIS militants also attacked a government building
in Dibis town, about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Kirkuk on
Friday.
Twelve people were killed, including nine Iraqi employees and three Iranian contractors, two security officials told CNN.
Kirkuk assault 'a disruption'
The
most likely reason for Friday's assault is disruption, with ISIS
demonstrating it can deploy its resources far behind the front lines,
CNN's Michael Holmes said near Mosul.
Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces head toward the front lines near Qayyara on Tuesday, October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces in Bajwaniyah on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
People flee their homes amid the fighting on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Smoke rises from an ISIS position after a coalition airstrike in Mosul on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Civilians
herd sheep from a village near Mosul on October 18. The smoke came from
oil wells ISIS set on fire to limit the visibility of coalition pilots.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Kurdish Peshmerga forces are on the front line in Nineveh, Iraq, on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
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Peshmerga fighter peers up from an underground tunnel in the liberated
town of Badana on October 18. ISIS fighters have built tunnels below
residential streets to escape from airstrikes.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Armored vehicles driven by Peshmerga forces move along the Hazir front on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Members of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government take aim near the town of Bartella on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Kurdish security forces take up a position near ISIS-controlled villages on Monday, October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces attack ISIS militants with howitzers from Zardak mountain on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Smoke rises from a suicide car bomb attack carried out by ISIS in the village of Bedene on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi
coalition forces deploy in the area of al-Shurah as they advance toward
Mosul on October 17. Before ISIS gained control, Mosul was inhabited by
more than 2 million people. Only about 1 million residents now remain.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Coalition forces attack ISIS targets in the Bertela region on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces advance near al-Shurah on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Kurdish Peshmerga convoy drives towards the Khazer front line, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Members of the Iraqi coalition gather around a fire at Zardak mountain ahead of the offensive.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces deploy in the dark near the village of Wardak early on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
An
Iraqi police officer inspects his weapon at the Qayyara military base
about 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Mosul on Sunday, October 16. If
Iraqi forces regain control of Mosul, it will be the latest in a string
of victories, including the recapture of the Qayyara oil refinery and
airbase.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Sunni Iraqi police officer prays at the Qayyara airbase on October 16.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
Kurdish Peshmerga fighter watches Iraqi forces battle ISIS while trying
to take back a village on the road to Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, October
20. This is as far as the Peshmerga are allowed to go in this area. An
Iraqi-led offensive is underway to reclaim the largest region of the
country under ISIS control.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
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Peshmerga soldier mans a post on the outskirts of Mosul on October 20.
The Iraqi-led coalition is advancing closer to Mosul, a stronghold of
ISIS since 2014.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga fighters look over a village during an assault near the town of Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
coalition fighter covers his ears before another fires artillery on
ISIS positions in Nawaran on October 20. The coalition against ISIS
includes Iraqi, Kurdish and American forces.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces move on ISIS targets near the village of Naveran on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Coalition fighters hold position near Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi troops ride in the back of a vehicle as they advance through the desert northeast of Qayyara, Iraq, on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces are seen during an attack on ISIS targets in the village of Naveran.
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A flag flies as Peshmerga fighters prepare to fire a rocket near Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A member of the Peshmerga forces handles weaponry during an attack on ISIS targets near Naveran on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Peshmerga fighter takes aim near Naveran on October 20.
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Iraqi soldiers travel along a road near Qayyara as clouds of black smoke rise in the sky on Wednesday, October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi special forces advance toward Mosul on Wednesday.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Displaced people flee their homes on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces fire a howitzer toward the village of Tall al-Tibah on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi soldiers raise their weapons in celebration on the outskirts of Qayyara on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A man stands in front of a fire from oil that had earlier been set ablaze by members of ISIS in the Qayyara area on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A street is covered with smoke from the Qayyara fire.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi soldiers look on as smoke rises from the Qayyara area.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces head toward the front lines near Qayyara on Tuesday, October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces in Bajwaniyah on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
People flee their homes amid the fighting on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Smoke rises from an ISIS position after a coalition airstrike in Mosul on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Civilians
herd sheep from a village near Mosul on October 18. The smoke came from
oil wells ISIS set on fire to limit the visibility of coalition pilots.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Kurdish Peshmerga forces are on the front line in Nineveh, Iraq, on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
Peshmerga fighter peers up from an underground tunnel in the liberated
town of Badana on October 18. ISIS fighters have built tunnels below
residential streets to escape from airstrikes.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Armored vehicles driven by Peshmerga forces move along the Hazir front on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Members of the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government take aim near the town of Bartella on October 18.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Kurdish security forces take up a position near ISIS-controlled villages on Monday, October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces attack ISIS militants with howitzers from Zardak mountain on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Smoke rises from a suicide car bomb attack carried out by ISIS in the village of Bedene on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi
coalition forces deploy in the area of al-Shurah as they advance toward
Mosul on October 17. Before ISIS gained control, Mosul was inhabited by
more than 2 million people. Only about 1 million residents now remain.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Coalition forces attack ISIS targets in the Bertela region on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces advance near al-Shurah on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Kurdish Peshmerga convoy drives towards the Khazer front line, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Members of the Iraqi coalition gather around a fire at Zardak mountain ahead of the offensive.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces deploy in the dark near the village of Wardak early on October 17.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
An
Iraqi police officer inspects his weapon at the Qayyara military base
about 60 kilometers (35 miles) south of Mosul on Sunday, October 16. If
Iraqi forces regain control of Mosul, it will be the latest in a string
of victories, including the recapture of the Qayyara oil refinery and
airbase.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Sunni Iraqi police officer prays at the Qayyara airbase on October 16.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
Kurdish Peshmerga fighter watches Iraqi forces battle ISIS while trying
to take back a village on the road to Mosul, Iraq, on Thursday, October
20. This is as far as the Peshmerga are allowed to go in this area. An
Iraqi-led offensive is underway to reclaim the largest region of the
country under ISIS control.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
Peshmerga soldier mans a post on the outskirts of Mosul on October 20.
The Iraqi-led coalition is advancing closer to Mosul, a stronghold of
ISIS since 2014.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga fighters look over a village during an assault near the town of Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A
coalition fighter covers his ears before another fires artillery on
ISIS positions in Nawaran on October 20. The coalition against ISIS
includes Iraqi, Kurdish and American forces.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces move on ISIS targets near the village of Naveran on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Coalition fighters hold position near Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi troops ride in the back of a vehicle as they advance through the desert northeast of Qayyara, Iraq, on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Peshmerga forces are seen during an attack on ISIS targets in the village of Naveran.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A flag flies as Peshmerga fighters prepare to fire a rocket near Bashiqa on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A member of the Peshmerga forces handles weaponry during an attack on ISIS targets near Naveran on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A Peshmerga fighter takes aim near Naveran on October 20.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi soldiers travel along a road near Qayyara as clouds of black smoke rise in the sky on Wednesday, October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi special forces advance toward Mosul on Wednesday.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Displaced people flee their homes on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces fire a howitzer toward the village of Tall al-Tibah on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi soldiers raise their weapons in celebration on the outskirts of Qayyara on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A man stands in front of a fire from oil that had earlier been set ablaze by members of ISIS in the Qayyara area on October 19.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
A street is covered with smoke from the Qayyara fire.
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Iraqi soldiers look on as smoke rises from the Qayyara area.
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Photos: Mosul operation: Iraqi-led forces push toward key city
Iraqi forces head toward the front lines near Qayyara on Tuesday, October 18.
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20
"It's
long been thought that there would be something like this going on in
more than one place around Iraq as the Mosul offensive got under way,"
he said. "There's been speculation that there are ISIS sleeper cells, or
ISIS fighters, within reach of places like that for some time, from
Baghdad to places like Kirkuk."
The city's significance stems from the fact its oil reserves are almost as much as those in southern Iraq.
Intense battle around Mosul
Fighting
outside of Mosul as part of the offensive to retake what's seen as the
cultural capital of ISIS's envisaged caliphate was the fiercest yet on
Thursday, with Iraqi-led forces meeting strong resistance from
militants.
Iraqi Maj. Gen. Maan
al-Saadi said 200 ISIS fighters were killed as Iraqi forces took the
Christian town of Bartella from their control, the latest territorial
win for a coalition of around 100,000 people quickly closing in on
Mosul.
Iraqi
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters prepare to fire a rocket launcher near the
town of Bashiqa, about 15 miles northeast of Mosul, on October 20, 2016.
The coalition has now recaptured at least 100 square kilometers of territory, a CNN analysis of the battlefield shows.
Peshmerga
forces' command said they advanced "significantly" to the north and
northeast of Mosul on Thursday, and liberated a number of villages.
However, it criticized the air support provided by the international coalition, saying it was "not as decisive as in the past."
"Regrettably
a number of Peshmerga have paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to
deliver today's gains against ISIL," it said, using another acronym for
ISIS. Up to 10,000 Peshmerga are involved in the operation on three
fronts, it said.
ISIS using drones in battle for Mosul 02:53
The
US envoy for the anti-ISIS coalition, Brett McGurk, said via Twitter
that he was heading to Irbil on Friday to meet with US, Iraqi, and
Kurdish officials taking part in the Mosul campaign. The Pentagon
announced Thursday that a US service member died of injuries suffered in
a blast in northern Iraq.
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