LIVE BLOG: The battle for Mosul

The French army's official Twitter account have posted a short video confirming their participation in the operation to liberate Mosul from IS militants.

The Popular Mobilisation Units, the predominantly Shia-led, Iranian backed militias in Iraq, promised recently to defend Chsitrianity in Mosul.

Here's the high-production video the PMU released late last year, and republished late last week.

Christians in Mosul, like many other religious minorities, have been persecuted by the IS group: having their possessions stolen, being subjected to a "Christian" tax and / or being banished from the city. 

Voting is now open on MEE's Twitter poll! Do you think the current battle will make things better or worse for the people of Mosul?

Turkey is ready for hundreds of thousands of potential refugees fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul after a US-backed operation to remove Islamic State began, the deputy prime minister has said.

However, Turkey does not expect an influx of refugees if the operation is conducted "correctly", said Numan Kurtulmus

Turkey has repeatedly warned that the operation in Mosul could unleash sectarian strife. It has been locked in a row with Baghdad about the presence of Turkish troops at a camp in northern Iraq and over who should take part in the assault on the city.

The United Nations refugee agency said up to 100,000 Iraqis may flee to Syria and Turkey

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued an appeal for an additional $61m to provide tents, camps, winter items and stoves for displaced people inside Iraq and the two neighbouring countries.

"UNHCR is concerned that events in Mosul may cause up to 100,000 Iraqis to flee towards Syria and Turkey," it said. "Preparedness plans are underway in Syria to receive up to 90,000 Iraqi refugees."

Iraqis are using the hashtag #We're_coming_mother_of_two_springs to keep up to date on events in Mosul. 

Due to its lush climate, Mosul is said to have two springs supplying it with water, hence its nickname.

Other hashtags being used include: #Mosul, #Liberation_of_Mosul, #Mosul_is_being_liberated

Translation: The peshmerga are 12km away from the center of Mosul #Mosul #Mosul_is_being_liberated #al-Hashd_al-Shaabi #We're_coming_mother_of_two_springs #The_time_has_come_for_Mosul #ISIL #We're_going_to_ruin_you

Iraqi social media user celebrating the bravery of his country's armed forces against the IS group, with the hashtag at the end #We're_coming_mother_of_two_springs

Translation: The liberation of Mosul #We're_coming_mother_of_two_springs

Here's Iraq's prime minister on the campaign to retake Mosul.

More on the theme of what happens after the fall of Mosul, and the expulsion of IS from its last Iraqi stronghold. MEE reporter Florian Neuhof in northern Iraq delves into the rival factions involved in the offensive, and their plans if Mosul falls.

You can read the article by clikcing this link.

Peshmerga forces have captured IS light mortars in their advance on Mosul.

The Mosul offensive has taken months of preparation and a slow grind through outlying villages. The Kurdish peshmerga have done much of the fighting. In August, Wilson Fache spoke to commanders on the front lines who were adamant that any territory they gained would remain under their control, or could be used as a bargaining chip to claim other areas for the Kurdistan Regional Government.

You can read the article by clicking this link.

A video allegedly showing French participation in the battle for Mosul has surfaced on Twitter.