Retaking Mosul will be bitter battle

Islamic State fighters have been planting bombs, blocking roads and targeting suspected spies as Iraqi and Kurdish forces close in on Mosul.

A 94,000-member coalition force is involved in the operation to free Mosul from more than two years of ISIS rule.

The battle to retake Mosul could take months according to military sources.

Around a million people are still living in the devastated city and are stock-piling food.