(1 Jan 2017) A senior US military commander in Iraq on Sunday gave a vote of confidence in Iraqi forces fighting to recapture the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State group (IS) militants. Speaking to The Associated Press in an interview, Brigadier General Rick Uribe said they were currently “at their peak” and adjusting well to changing realities on the battlefield. Uribe said he agrees with the forecast given by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi that it would take another three months to liberate Mosul, the last urban centre still in the hands of the extremist group in Iraq. He said Iraqi forces north and south of Mosul have made progress since a new offensive was launched last week after a two-week lull in fighting. A government campaign to liberate Mosul and surrounding areas in Nineveh province began in mid-October. However, more than two months later, the only major fighting inside the city has been done by elite counter-terrorism forces, also known as the special forces or the "Golden Division." Since the new offensive began, the special forces pushed forward in at least two neighbourhoods in the city’s eastern sector, while the army’s 9th and 16th Divisions also made headway south and north of the capital respectively. The 9th Division was joined by units of the militarised Federal Police, while the 16th was bolstered by army units. Iraqi authorities have advised the estimated one million civilians believed to be still inside Mosul to stay home until the city is fully liberated, but fears of getting caught in the crossfire between government forces and the militants have forced at least 120,000 residents to flee so far. Many are also leaving the city because they had run out of food and money and because of lack of essential services, like water and power. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/edab369c47f8996f7e33c124af121b5b Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork