ISIS fought back fiercely, 1,000 civilians inhaled toxic gas.

(Baonghean.vn) - The battle to retake Mosul from the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) by Iraqi forces has seen many dramatic developments on the ground.

Many people have been hospitalized due to inhaling toxic fumes. Photo: RT.

On October 22, US military officials said hundreds of people in Iraq were receiving treatment for respiratory problems due to the effects of toxic gas after an ISIS-led arson attack on a sulfur production plant.

IS militants set fire to the chemical plant on October 20th as they fled from a counterattack by Iraqi government forces advancing toward their stronghold of Mosul.

US military officials also confirmed on October 22nd that winds carrying toxic smoke forced US forces stationed at West Qayyarah airfield, near Mosul, to wear oxygen masks. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that nearly 1,000 other people were also receiving treatment for respiratory problems.

An Iraqi military commander said two civilians near the plant died from exposure to toxic fumes.

Regarding the fighting on the ground, on the morning of October 22, Iraqi forces recaptured the town of Qaraqosh, located 20 km southeast of Mosul, which had been occupied by IS since 2014. Qaraqosh was Iraq's largest Christian town before the war broke out.

Iraqi troops are now only 20 km from Mosul, causing ISIS to fight back fiercely. Photo: AP.

The Iraqi army is also working to retake a nearby Christian village called Karemlash.

The battle to retake Mosul is considered the biggest fight in Iraq since the US-led coalition invaded the Middle Eastern country in 2013. Iraqi forces are pushing forward from the south and east, while Kurdish fighters hold the front lines in the east and north.

Since the start of this week when the campaign to retake Mosul was launched, Iraqi forces have regained control of nearly 50 villages surrounding Mosul, an ISIS stronghold with a presence of approximately 5,000-6,000 militants. There are currently around 5,000 US troops stationed in Iraq.

Iraqi forces also regained control of the city of Kirkuk on October 22 and gradually lifted the curfew imposed after fighting there claimed the lives of at least 50 people and injured 80 others.

Lan Ha

(According to The Guardian)