US-backed Iraqi forces enter Mosul airport, military base

Backed by the U.S.-led international coalition, Iraqi forces fought their way Thursday into a sprawling military base outside of Mosul and onto the grounds of the city's airport, taking control of the runway amid fierce exchanges of fire with Islamic State militants.The two-pronged advance is part of a major assault that started earlier this week to drive the Islamic State group from the western half of Mosul, Iraq's second-largest cityThe Iraqi federal police units, backed by regular army force