Alice Fordham

The Iraqi and U.S. offensive to try to force ISIS from the city of Mosul has been underway for nearly a month. But the fight for the city itself is just beginning.

As families flee from the ISIS-held areas around the Iraqi city of Mosul, they're put in detention. Relatives who were displaced long ago crowd the other side of the fence trying to visit with them.

Christians in northern Iraq can now return to villages that the Islamic State occupied for the past two years. But the damage is extensive and many are not sure it's safe to go back.

Iraqi forces are advancing toward Mosul's center from the east. As the battle intensifies, more people are fleeing the city.

In Iraq, counter-terror forces are nudging their way into the ISIS-held city of Mosul. People are fleeing the fighting with only the clothes on their backs. Hundreds of thousands more could follow.

Iraqi government forces have fought their way into the edges of the large city of Mosul, an important step in the effort to force ISIS from the town.

The Iraqi army is battling its way through villages south of Mosul. Residents who fled say some local tribes are still with ISIS, and will be ready to fight to the death.

In Iraq, the battle for control of Mosul, the country's second largest city, has been raging for almost a week. There are differing narratives coming from the Pentagon and the front lines.

In the first week of an Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul, the effort is slow and fraught with danger. While officials say the operation is on track, citizens who've witnessed the casualties disagree.

The police force has regrouped outside the city and is eager to return and reclaim Mosul from the Islamic State. But some officers speak openly of their desire to settle scores.

Iraqis from Mosul expect chaos when ISIS is pushed out. In 13 years of war, when the army and its U.S. ally have taken control of cities, the military victories were squandered amid sectarian feuding.

Iraqi forces have begun the offensive to retake the large city of Mosul from ISIS. The battle, which has help from U.S. advisers and airstrikes, could take weeks or months.

A U.S.-backed effort by Iraqi forces to retake the city of Mosul from ISIS has begun. It was in Mosul that the leader of the Islamic State officially declared a caliphate.

Iraq is readying for an assault on ISIS in the city of Mosul. Former residents say the extremists are tackling resistance with extra brutality. This report includes graphic descriptions of violence.

The U.S.-backed Iraqi offensive to try to force ISIS from Mosul may be just days away. Hundreds of thousands could be displaced in the fighting but the nearest camp can accommodate only 50,000 people.

With diplomacy at a standstill, what is the military strategy for the Syrian regime and rebels? Residents fear regime forces will massacre civilians — or the current siege will force surrender.

The Syrian government and Russian air force are pounding Aleppo's rebel areas, while rebel fighters battle back. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are in the middle of an intensifying humanitarian disaster.

The aerial bombardment of eastern Aleppo by Syrian regime and Russian warplanes has reached a new level of ferocity. The attacks killed hundreds, overwhelmed hospitals and destroyed neighborhoods.

Syria is unleashing its air power on rebel-held Aleppo, saying it will reclaim all of the embattled city. A target of the air assault appears to be the White Helmets — the volunteer rescue group that works in the opposition area and has been talked about as a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Syria's government resumed air attacks, particularly on areas held by the opposition around Aleppo. Airstrikes hit an aid convoy. The government had given permission for the convoy to move.