IRAQI troops fought their way into Islamic State (Isis)-occupied Mosul yesterday and liberated the national TV building.

Counterterrorism special forces entered the Gogjali district within the city limits and to the limits of the more heavily urbanised Karama district, said Major-General Sami al-Aridi.

He said the troops took the al-Iraqiya TV building, the broadcaster’s only centre in Nineveh province, and heavy fighting broke out as they tried to push further into the city.

“Daesh is fighting back and have set up concrete blast walls to block off the Karama district and our troops’ advance,” Gen al-Aridi said, using the Arabic acronym for Isis. Bombs had been laid along the road into the city, he added.

An official casualty report had yet to be given, but officers mentioned one dead and one wounded.

The battle opened with Iraqi artillery, tank and machine gun fire on Isis positions on the edge of Gogjali, with the extremists responding with guided anti-tank missiles and small arms.

The US-led coalition bombed positions inside Iraq’s second-biggest city — just as Washington and Western powers have condemned Syria and Russia for doing in rebel-occupied east Aleppo.

Spokesman Colonel John Dorrian said: “When we see them come together where there are significant numbers we will strike them and kill them,” claiming only “precise” bombs were being dropped on the city.

Fighting ended at sunset as a sandstorm reduced visibility to 100 yards.