At least '1,200 Iraqi personnel' killed in Mosul operation

More than 1,200 Iraqi security personnel were killed in the military operation to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State group, the US-led coalition said on Friday.

The July recapture of Mosul, a city that IS seized more than three years before, was the biggest defeat the extremists had been dealt since the war to push them back began.

Iraqi forces often release figures for IS fighters they say they have killed, but are extremely reticent about their own losses.

"The October 2016 to July 2017 battle to liberate Mosul reflects a significant sacrifice by our Iraqi partners, who lost 1,200-1,500 personnel in action, with an approximate 8,000 more wounded," the US coalition said in a statement.

It did not provide a breakdown of casualties among the various forces that took part in the gruelling battle.

IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support have since regained most of the territory they lost.

Mosul was devastated during the eight month campaign with IS fighters putting up a ferocious fight to the government assault.

IS fighters used improvised bombs, booby traps, tunnels and snipers to slow the advance of the Iraqi troops, while civilians were used as human shields by the militants.

The US-led anti-IS coalition launched air strikes on IS positions in the city, while artillery also caused huge damage to Mosul.

Rebuilding Mosul's infrastructure will cost around $1 billion, the UN has said.