Iraqi forces announce progress in Mosul offensive

By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi government and Kurdish forces on Tuesday announced progress in the first 24 hours of an offensive to take back Mosul, Islamic State's last city stronghold in Iraq. The Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmerga forces began moving in the direction of Mosul at dawn on Monday under air cover from the U.S.-led anti-Islamic State coalition. A total of 20 villages were taken from the militants east, south and southeast of Mosul, according to statements from the