Iraqi forces recaptures Mosul airport from ISIS

Iraqi security forces recaptured the Mosul airport from ISIS, a key part of the government's offensive to drive the Islamic State (IS) from the western half of the city.

The operation took four hours. IS continued to fire mortars at the airport from further inside the city after losing the ground to the army.

"The jihadists have also entered a nearby military base amid further clashes," the guardian quoted military spokesperson as saying.

Eastern Mosul was retaken last month

Backed by US jets and drones, national police forces were first into the Mosul airfield and had secured most of the runway by noon local time. Militants had laid mines throughout the disused complex and were clashing heavily with advancing forces, before capitulating late in the afternoon.

The seizure of the base will give the forces and their US backers control of two large airfields near Mosul, the other one being the Qayyarah military base, to the south of the city.