#MosulOps: Map reveals long road ahead for Iraqi forces

Despite rapid gains in the first month of the fight and gaining a foothold in the east, a map has revealed the long slog ahead for liberation forces.

Released by US geopolitical intelligence service Stratfor, it shows how much of the city is still under IS control.

"Much of the combat has required security forces to proceed house by house while being harried by militant snipers and car bombs," its report said.

"The Islamic State has also deliberately allowed troops into certain neighborhoods as a way of trapping them."

Forces have been faced with fierce resistance from IS militants who are using cars packed with explosives, suicide bombers, weaponised drones and snipers on the battlefield.

Clouds over the city on Thursday obscured visibility for drones and strike aircraft and forced soldiers to halt their advance. Instead troops used the pause in fighting to secure recaptured neighbourhoods with checkpoints and sweep for explosives planted by militants.

The latest gains were made on Wednesday by Iraq's paramilitary force, the Hashd al-Shaabi, who recaptured Tal Afar airport west of Mosul.

An assault on Mosul Airport will begin in the next few days, Stratfor said.

Agencies contributed to this report.