Footage: Daesh targets in Mosul destroyed by US and UK forces

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Iraqi forces are advancing into the southern outskirts of Mosul in their latest push to force Daesh militants from the city's western half, with the US leading crucial aerial support operations.

Monday saw them arrive in the vicinity of Mosul airport, which they hope to repurpose as a close support base for the coming advance into the city itself, from which Iraqi air assets can be deployed.

US defence secretary James Mattis has met with officials to discuss the coordination between the armed forces, which includes British, Turkish and Kurdish forces, as well as Iraqi police.

Department of Defence footage released earlier this month showed an insurgent-operated tank being destroyed by an air-to-ground missile [below] in just one of the many airstrikes being undertaken as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. The designated Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF-OIR) is also undertaking parallel action in Syria.

The coalition campaign has already driven the fighters from the eastern half of Mosul, but concerns over civilians trapped in the city have complicated liberation efforts.

Meanwhile, militarised police in armoured vehicles were witnessed advancing towards the Ghazlani military base on the southwestern outskirts of the city. 

"We're going to make certain that we've got good situational awareness of what we face as we work together and fight alongside each other," Mattis told reporters.

The Defence Secretary is set to present a new strategy for defeating Daesh to President Trump within the next few days.

Western Mosul presents a number of tactical challenges for ground and air operations given its narrow streets and ageing buildings. Armoured vehicles will not be able to access all areas, requiring soldiers to put boots on the ground. Meanwhile, up to 750,000 civilians are believed to still be in the city and are likely to be used by the insurgents as the extremist group becomes more desperate to hold its ground. The city has been occupied by Daesh fighters since 2014.

The UK MoD also released its own footage [below] of RAF Typhoons destroying one of the Daesh headquarters in north-western Mosul.

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