Mosul battle: BBC team's tweets from front line

An Iraqi special forces soldier in a Humvee in Bazwaya, east of MosulAP

The BBC team is embedded with Iraqi special forces as they advance on Mosul

As Iraqi special forces enter the city of Mosul for the first time since the start of the campaign to retake it from so-called Islamic State, a BBC team embedded with the troops is tweeting from the front line as the battle unfolds.

The BBC's Ian Pannell said the jihadists were putting up a hard fight.

Tweet. Ian Pannell says Iraqi forces are back in control of parts of Mosul
Tweet from Ian Pannell reads: Iraqi counter terrorism forces have entered #Mosul TV building - east of city@bbcipannell
@BBCiPannell tweet@BBCiPannell
Tweet from Ian Pannell reads: Iraqi forces enter Mosul. Counter terrorism forces are fighting on outskirts against very stiff IS resistance.@BBCiPannell
Tweet from Ian Pannell reads: Iraqi forces now just a few hundred metres from edge of Mosul. Meeting stronger resistance from IS fighters@BBCiPannell

BBC producers Joan Soley and Peter Emmerson are also embedded with the Iraqi troops.

Tweet
Tweet from Joan Soley says: Crazy skies around outskirts of Mosul - so much smoke from fighting/air strikes mixed with sandstorm. Almost dark by 1630 local@joansoley
Tweet from Joan Soley reads: Iraqi military source says 'witnesses in #Mosul say they've seen #Daesh fighters fleeing toward center of city, after SpecF stormed Gogjali & Qudus'@joansoley
Tweet from Joan Soley reads: Sound of gun fire, mortars, tank rounds - constant now - seen one injured Iraq Special Forces solider rushed off frontline already #Mosul@JOANSOLEY
Tweet from Joan Soley reads: Dark, ominous clouds coming from Mosul - as seen from less than 2 miles away.@joansoley
Tweet from Peter Emmerson reads: Sky turns black on battle for Mosul@pwemmerson

BBC Arabic's Feras Kilani caught in crossfire.

Tweet from Feras Kilani says BBC Arabic team caught in crossfire

This picture from Feras Kilani shows the destruction of a neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city.

Tweet from Feras Kilani says: Heavy fighting on the Eastern Front of #Mosul ahead of us@feraskilanibbc

There are thought to be up to 1.5 million civilians in Mosul, trapped between IS and Iraqi forces.

Tweet from Ian Pannell reads: Iraqi forces near edge of Mosul. Daesh responding with snipers and mortars. Coalition jets striking targets. What fate for trapped civilians?@BBCiPannell

The team were with the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) when it retook Bazwaya, about 3km (2 miles) east of Mosul, on Monday.

Tweet from Ian Pannell reads: Fatima and Najila - freed from Islamic State but what future, with a picture with the girls@BBCiPannell
Tweet from Peter Emmerson reads: Families return to Bazwaya, last village before Mosul@pwemmerson
Tweet from Peter Emmerson reads: Free from Islamic State - Bazwaya, last village before Mosul@pwemmerson

More on this story