Attack on west Mosul: Inside Iraq offensive on IS

The BBC's Quentin Sommerville is embedded with the Iraqi army as they attempt to retake western Mosul - the last urban redoubt of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq.

He spent the first day of the offensive with the special forces troops of the Emergency Response Division as they cleared villages south of the city.

Here are some of his pictures.

1

Looking out over the battlefield at the beginning of the day

2

Hundreds of military vehicles advanced in convoy

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Members of the Emergency Response Division

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Leaflets were dropped telling residents to stay indoors

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Troops rest during the advance

Spent Islamic State shells in a village home

Spent Islamic State shells in a village home

6

Lt Col Mohammed lights up as he calls in an artillery strike

A piece of paper found in a house depicts the IS flag

A piece of paper found in a house depicts the IS flag

An IS car bomb, primed, and hidden inside a village home

An IS car bomb, primed, and hidden inside a village home

Soldiers rest towards the end of the day

Soldiers rest towards the end of the day