Mosul, the second phase of the attack by Iraqi forces

Iraqi forces, according to local officials, have started the latest wave of attacks against the so-called Islamic State in their stronghold of Mosul. The troops are focusing on eastern areas of the city, in what is considered the "second phase" of the attack to retake the city, the last major area under the control of the jihadists in Iraq.

Military campaign also marks the end of a way of fighting lethargy in recent weeks. This is because the Iraqi forces faced a stiff resistance from the initial entry in the eastern outskirts of Mosul last month.

Commander of special forces in eastern Mosul, Abdul-Ëahab al-Saadi said the "Associated Press" offensive launched after troops have been substantially reinforced. And after the first attack in November, Iraqi counterterrorism troops already are trying to put in Karama. According to him, the troops are less than 3 km from the river Tigris, which divides the city.

On Monday, the last bridge that remained functional on this river, was thwarted by a coalition air strike led by the United States. Posted video footage of jihadist news agency "Amaq" showed precisely the collapse of a section of the old bridge.

Mosul was only 5 functional bridge before pro-government forces launch attack to retake the city. Meanwhile, the UN has warned that their destruction can impede the process of evacuation of more than a million civilians trapped there.