Remarkable how this article manages to speak of Mosul without mentioning the enormous toll it's taking in the lives of civilians and soldiers alike. It's clear that information is being deliberately suppressed. However I've been able to piece together some data from separate sources in the region.

1. Iraqi media, citing the general in charge of their ground forces, states that they lost 2000 soldiers in the last month of fighting for Mosul.

2. Humanitarian sources in Mosul state that civilian casualties outnumber military casualties by 5 to 1.

3. Islamic State combatants are putting up an extremely fierce resistance, using every means at their disposal.

4. The US coalition made quick gains at first, but the advance ground to a halt about a month ago and has gone nowhere since. About three-quarters of greater Mosul is still under control of the Islamic State, including all of the densest urban zones.