Mosul: A city in ruins

Mosul: A city in ruins
By Euronews
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Nearly nine months of grueling urban warfare has left Mosul in ruins.

The Iraqi army has almost entirely driven out the self-styled Islamic State group which had occupied the city for three years.

But the Mosul they have taken back is unrecognisable.

The old town is nothing but rumble, with much of the city flattened by air strikes and explosions during the long battle.

The airport, railway station and university were all destroyed.

Thousands of civilians were killed and injured in the campaign and dead bodies still lie on the streets.

Iraqi forces claim ‘victory’ over ISIL in Mosul https://t.co/HZS6CNCrS5pic.twitter.com/cimgEXTJsV

— euronews (@euronews) July 10, 2017

It was once home to 1.5million people, but almost two thirds have fled, many of them still displaced.

The reconstruction of the city will be no small task.

Iraqi officials say Mosul’s wrecked roads, bridges and broader economy will take at least five years to repair.

The UN predicts it will cost at least one billion dollars just to restore basic services, something the Iraqi government will struggle to afford.

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