#MosulOp: 'More than 800 Islamic State militants killed'

The battle against the militants “is going as planned” General Mohammed Fathi Abdullah said, adding that the military “expects complications, however what is certain is we will not stop.”

The death toll was confirmed by the head of the US military's Central Command, General Joseph Votel who said "just in the operations over the last week and a half associated with Mosul, we estimate they've probably killed about 800-900 Islamic State fighters.”

The comments come as local sources reported multiple IS suicide attacks targeting pro-government forces, including Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, as well as the Iraqi military along the southern and eastern axis.

Military ambulances were seen transporting the dead and wounded at 8am on Thursday, The New Arab correspondent confirmed.

Meanwhile in the western Rutbah city, at least 25 militants were killed in US airstrikes.

“US warplanes struck a convoy of Islamic State vehicles, south of the Rutbah city, along the border with Saudi Arabia,” an Iraqi army officer told The New Arab.

A number of foreign IS militants were among those killed in the air raid, sources suggested.

Mosul, once home to more than two million people, fell to Islamic State more than two years ago. The operation to retake it is expected to be the most complex yet for Iraq's military.

The militants have had months to prepare for the long-awaited operation and are believed to have developed extensive defences in and around the city. In recent weeks they are also said to have targeted alleged spies and others they fear may rise up against them.

So far, more than 10,000 people have been displaced to make way for the crucial Mosul battle, the UN said, adding to the 3.3 million who were forced to flee their homes since the conflict began in 2014.