Iraq announced on Tuesday that its forces had entered jihadist-held Mosul for the first time since the Islamic State group overran the city more than two years ago.

Iraqi army forces had entered areas within "the left bank of the city of Mosul," Iraq's Joint Operations Command said.

Mosul is split down the middle by the Tigris River. Iraqis refer to the eastern half of the city as the left bank and the western side as the right bank.