audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - The major military offensive to reclaim the northern Iraqi city Mosul from Islamic State (IS) is under way, forcing thousands of Iraqis to flee their homes. 30,000 Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen, assisted by US-led coalition, launched the assault almost two years since jihadists overran the city then taking control of much of north western Iraq. The fighting is expected to take weeks, maybe months, all hinging on how much resistance they will get from the roughly 5,000 militants believed to be in Mosul. However, there are concerns about the fate of the estimated 1.5 million civilians living in the city, with UN human rights groups receiving reports of atrocities being committed by IS militants. As the battle for territory continues, the UN has warned up to 200,000 people could be displaced in the first two weeks of the conflict alone.
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October 19, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Iraqi special armed forces rest in a village formerly controlled by the ISIS. Iraqi and Kurdish Pesmerga fighters have conquered several villages outside Mosul, Iraq from the Islamic State.
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Oct 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier walks through an open field. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A bullet hole from battle is seen. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A soldier wears a helmet and headgear. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A shoe lies in the battle field. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Kurdish Peshmerga forces inspect an abandoned house in the outskirts of Mosul recaptured from the Islamic State jihadists by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - An ISIS armored vehicle with welded with steel plates sits in an open field. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Soldiers take selfless of themselves in the battle field. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - An abandoned house in the outskirts of Mosul, recaptured from the Islamic State jihadists by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier in an abandoned house. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A man prays in the battle field. The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 19, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Handprints are seen on a wall. Iraqi and Kurdish Pesmerga fighters have conquered several villages outside Mosul, from the Islamic State.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - A tunnel inside an abandoned house on the outskirts of Mosul, recaptured from the Islamic State jihadists by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.
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October 19, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - An abandoned umbrella lies on the ground. Iraqi and Kurdish Pesmerga fighters have conquered several villages outside Mosul, from the Islamic State.
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October 20, 2016 - Dohuk, Iraq - A female Peshmerga soldier in Dohuk, north of Mosul.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - An abandoned house on the outskirts of Mosul, recaptured from the Islamic State jihadists by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - The military offensive to reclaim Mosul from Islamic State (ISIS) is under way.
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October 19, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Iraqi and Kurdish Pesmerga fighters have conquered several villages outside Mosul, Iraq from the Islamic State. Iraqi special armed forces rest in a village formerly controlled by the ISIS.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Kurdish Peshmerga forces inspect a tunnel inside an abandoned house on the outskirts of Mosul, recaptured from the Islamic State (IS) jihadists by Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.
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October 18, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces during an operation to retake Mosul from the Islamic State.
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October 19, 2016 - Mosul, Iraq - The battle of Mosul. Iraqi and Kurdish Pesmerga fighters have conquered several villages outside Mosul from the Islamic State.
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October 20, 2016 - Dohuk, Iraq - Peshmerga soldiers in Dohuk, north of Mosul.
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October 20, 2016 - Dohuk, Iraq - Peshmerga soldiers in Dohuk, north of Mosul.
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October 20, 2016 - Dohuk, Iraq - As the sun goes down, black smoke rises from a ISIS controlled village north of Mosul. The front north of Mosul is seen from the city Dohuk, Iraq.
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