Iraqi special forces join Mosul offensive against ISIS
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KHAZER -- Iraqi special forces joined the Mosul offensive on Thursday with a pre-dawn advance on a nearby town held by ISIS, encountering heavy fire.
Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi said the elite Counterterrorism Forces advanced on the town of Bartalla with the aid of US-led coalition airstrikes and heavy artillery on the fourth day of a massive operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city.
The special forces are expected to lead the way into Mosul, where they will face fierce resistance in an urban landscape where ISIS militants are preparing for a climactic battle.
