Iraqi forces are advancing on the last areas of Mosul held by the Islamic State group but the presence of large numbers of civilians is slowing their progress, a military spokesman said Thursday.

More than seven months into the massive operation to retake Iraq's second city, security forces have recaptured all but a handful of areas of Mosul from IS, but up to 200,000 civilians may be trapped in those still held by the jihadists.

"What is disrupting our advance is the presence of civilians," the spokesman for Iraq's Joint Operations Command, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, told AFP.

"We received hundreds of families through safe corridors," secured by Iraqi forces, he said.

The United Nations has said that up to 200,000 civilians may still be in IS-held areas of Mosul, most of them in the Old City which lies immediately south of where the current fighting is taking place.

The area -- a warren of narrow streets and closely-spaced buildings -- has posed a major challenge for security forces, and the coming battle to retake it poses a major threat to civilians.

More than 750,000 people have been displaced since the start of the Mosul operation, according to the UN, and that figure could increase sharply in the final stages of the battle for the city.

Only 150,000 of the displaced have since returned to their homes.

Football: Iraq play first post-ban friendly at home
Basra, Iraq (AFP) June 1, 2017 - Iraq faced Jordan in the southern city of Basra on Thursday in their first match at home since football's governing body FIFA lifted a multi-year ban on international friendlies.

Iraqis' passion for football cuts across the deep religious and political divisions that have fuelled horrific violence in the country for years, but that same violence has led to periodic bans on matches being held in the country.

Now the national team is finally back on the field in Iraq, and fans are both happy and proud about the homecoming.

"Now we truly feel the atmosphere of football, and we embrace our national team after it was far from us over the past years," said Hazem Mousa, a 46-year-old teacher.

Iraq returned the embrace with a 1-0 victory thanks to Alaa Abdul-Zahra's 14th minute strike.

"I feel proud and I see the fans return to support the team," 32-year-old engineer Haidar Aboud said.

"What makes me prouder is the feeling of responsibility. Everyone wants to make this event a success."

That is key for Iraq, currently under a three-month FIFA-imposed probation period during which their ability to host matches will be assessed.

If it goes well, official international matches as well as friendlies may return to the country.

FIFA banned Iraq from hosting friendlies in 2013 afer a coach was killed by security forces, only lifting it last month.

Violence was rising in 2013, part of a multi-year crescendo of bloodshed that culminated in the Islamic State group's takeover of large areas north and west of Baghdad the following summer.

Among the targets of frequent jihadist attacks in 2013 were football pitches where Iraqi children played and cafes broadcasting matches.

On Thursday, security was tight in Basra, which is far from the battlefields of Iraq's war against jihadists, but still suffers from violence due to other causes, including inter-tribal conflict.

Jabbar al-Saadi, the head of the province's security committee, said that more than 5,000 members of the security forces were involved in the security plan for the match.

Like their supporters, Iraqi players were glad to be home.

"It is very important that we return to playing in front of our fans," Ali Adnan told journalists.

"We hope that the Iraqi team's official matches will return to our stadiums."

Iraq already hosted one recent international match -- albeit between two Iraqi teams -- that was part of the Asian Football Confederation Cup.

"We have to invest well in the 90-day period specified by the international federation," Ali Jabbar, the deputy head of the Iraqi Football Association told a news conference.

"We consider the match with Jordan today the first step in lifting the ban (completely)."

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Three suicide blasts send Iraq death toll to 42
Baghdad (AFP) May 31, 2017
Three suicide bombings in Baghdad and a city to the west have killed at least 42 people, targeting Iraqis breaking their fast and elderly people collecting their pensions, officials said Tuesday. The strikes came as forces fought to retake the last areas held by the Islamic State group in their former stronghold of Mosul. The first IS-claimed car bombing struck a Baghdad ice cream shop d ... read more

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