Smoke and gunfire continued in Mosul today as Iraqi forces fought Islamic State for control of the city.

Billowing clouds of smoke were seen rising from severely damaged buildings with the sound of gunfire punctuating scenes of the defeated battleground.

Iraqi forces dislodged Islamic State from the eastern side of Mosul in January, and on Feb. 19 launched the offensive on the districts located west of the Tigris river.

State-run TV on Friday said that about half of western Mosul has been taken back from the militants who are besieged in the old city centre and districts to the north.

The offensive to recapture west Mosul started three weeks ago.

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