Mosul

Iraqi security forces, paramilitaries and international allies still face stiff resistance from ISIS in the city's outskirts. Inside the city, soldiers say civilians are being used as human shields.

The U.S.-backed troops have pushed through territory faster than expected in this pivotal offensive. The last major ISIS-held urban center in Iraq hangs in the balance.

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 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.