Pentagon: fight for Western Mosul to be tough

The fight for Western Mosul is likely to be even tougher than the Eastern side, the task force's commanding general, Stephen Townsend, said.

"There is still a long way to go before ISIL is completely eliminated from Iraq, and the fight for Western Mosul is likely to be even tougher than the Eastern side. But the (Iraqi security forces) have proven they are both a professional and formidable fighting force, and I have every confidence that ISIL's days are numbered in Iraq," CNN cited Townsend as saying.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reported Tuesday on state television that Iraqi forces have liberated the eastern half of Mosul from ISIS' grip.