Residents flee Western Mosul, as Iraqi forces push deeper into city

Scores of civilians fled western Mosul on Thursday while Iraqi forces fought Islamic State militants in the group’s stronghold uring bad weather in the early hours. Civilians from Maamoun district fleeing the fighting gathered at a petrol station at Hammam al-Alil junction. Men were separated and taken for a security screening while women and children sat together waiting to board buses which would take them to Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul. The residents will be housed in two camps, Hammam al-Alil camp and Jada camp set up by the Iraq government to serve as temporary shelter.