Iraqi, Kurdish Troops Begin Operation To Liberate Mosul

Iraqi government forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have launched a large-scale offensive to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS) extremist group. Iraq's military said more than 25,000 Iraqi troops would take part in the long-awaited assault which began on October 17. Peshmerga commanders said up to 4,000 Kurdish fighters would clear IS-held villages east of Mosul. Islamic State militants seized Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, more than two years ago. (RUDAW TV, AP video)