In pictures: Iraq government forces enter Mosul

3 November 2016

Iraqi special forces have for the first time entered the outskirts of Mosul, as they attempt to drive Islamic State (IS) militants from the northern city. Photojournalist Ayman Oghanna has been travelling with them.

A female civilian hugs a solider after the Golden Division captured Bazwaya, the last village on the outskirts of Mosul (24 October 2016) — Image caption,
A woman hugs a member of the Counter-Terrorism Service, also known as the Golden Division, after they recapture the last village on Mosul's eastern outskirts

Major Salam Jasim (centre) of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service near Tob Twaya (24 October 2016) — Image caption,
Major Salam Jasim (centre), is leading the CTS armoured ground convoy. He has taken part in nearly every battle with IS, which overran Mosul in June 2014 before seizing much of northern and western Iraq. Maj Jasim was wounded in the city of Falluja, which Iraqi forces retook in June

Iraqi special forces patrol Tob Zwaya (24 October 2016) — Image caption,
Troops search for IS militants after entering the village of Tob Zwaya, about 8km (5 miles) from Mosul, last week

Member of Counter-Terrorism Service carries an elderly civilian to safety during a firefight in Tob Zwaya (24 October 2016) — Image caption,
A member of the Golden Division carries an elderly civilian to safety during a firefight in Tob Zwaya

A Golden Division soldier passes ammunition up to his Humvee's gunner during the battle for Bazwaya (24 October 2016) — Image caption,
After clearing Tob Zwaya, the Gold Division advanced westwards and engaged militants in Bazwaya, the last village on the road into Mosul from the nearby Kurdish-controlled city of Irbil. Here, a soldier passes ammunition up to his Humvee's gunner during the fighting

Children greet Iraqi troops as they enter eastern Mosul (1 November 2016) — Image caption,
On Tuesday, a day after retaking Bazwaya, Golden Division troops launched a dawn assault on the Kukjali district, within Mosul's city limits. They met fierce resistance but advanced quickly. Children who had been sheltering in their homes came out to greet the first government forces in Mosul for two and a half years

A young boy sits with his family in a room crowded with civilians in Kukjali, an eastern district of Mosul (1 November 2016) — Image caption,
A young boy sits with his family in a room crowded with civilians in Kukjali. As Iraqi security forces bear down on the city, IS militants are preventing civilians form leaving and shooting those who attempt to do so

A group of civilians sit, eat and smoke cigarettes with Iraqi soldiers in eastern Mosul (1 November 2016) — Image caption,
A group of civilians sit, eat and smoke cigarettes with Golden Division soldiers

Iraqi security forces search for IS militants and positions after fighting their way into an eastern district of Mosul (1 November 2016) — Image caption,
The troops are advancing with caution amid fears of ambushes, secret tunnels and booby traps

First Lieutenant Alaa sits with a group of civilians after his unit fought its way into Kukjali (1 November 2016) — Image caption,
First Lieutenant Alaa sits with a group of civilians in Kukjali. The Mosul offensive is expected to take weeks, if not months

Follow Ayman Oghanna on Twitter, external and Instagram, external