WAGS AND DRAGS FLEE MOSUL

Cowardly ISIS commanders escape with their wives and girlfriends – as jihadis are caught on the run disguised in women’s clothing

Corey Charlton

Published: 10:23, 20 Oct 2016
Updated: 16:08, 20 Oct 2016

COWARDLY ISIS fighters dressed in women's clothes are fleeing Mosul while the group's commanders have ordered their WAGs to escape before the city is encircled.

Their desperate last-ditch orders come as Kurdish forces and elite Iraqi counter-terror troops began a lightning advance on the city.

Two men dressed in drag are photographed by peshmerga forces near Mosul

Kurdish troops fire rockets at ISIS troops in one of Mosul's outlying villages — Kurdish troops fire rockets at ISIS troops in one of Mosul's outlying villagesCredit: Getty Images

Smoke rises as liberating troops bombard ISIS positions — Smoke rises as liberating troops bombard ISIS positionsCredit: Reuters

One of Iraqs elite special forces soldiers poses for a photo having joined the battle for Mosul just this morning — One of Iraqs elite special forces soldiers poses for a photo having joined the battle for Mosul just this morningCredit: AP:Associated Press

A Kurdish sniper holds a position outside the town of Naweran — A Kurdish sniper holds a position outside the town of NaweranCredit: Reuters

Kurdish troops launched a "pincer" movement on three ISIS positions this morning — Kurdish troops launched a "pincer" movement on three ISIS positions this morningCredit: Getty Images

Peshmerga forces gather north of Mosul during today's advances — Peshmerga forces gather north of Mosul during today's advancesCredit: Reuters

They launched a three pronged attack on ISIS-held villages today — They launched a three pronged attack on ISIS-held villages todayCredit: Reuters

Pictures shared online show two men, purported to be enemy fighters, being paraded before liberating troops while wearing dresses.

It has also emerged leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi - who is rumoured to be holed up inside the besieged city - has ordered the "women of the caliphate" to leave.

Leading US generals and French president Francois Hollande say ISIS fighters are fleeing - and must be blocked from regrouping in nearby Raqqa.

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Terrified ISIS leaders leaving Mosul in their droves – many crashing their vehicles as they flee the besieged city

Terrified ISIS leaders leaving Mosul in their droves – many crashing their vehicles as they flee the besieged city

Major General Gary Volesky, who heads the anti-IS coalition's land component, said: "We are telling Daesh (ISIS) that their leaders are abandoning them. We've seen a movement out of Mosul."

He said many foreigners among the 3,000 to 4,500 ISIS fighters would likely end up forming the core of the holdout jihadist force.

Volesky noted that the Iraqis would screen anyone leaving Mosul, and attempts by foreign fighters to blend in to an expected exodus of displaced people would be thwarted.

A huge blaze sparked by oil well fires burns near Mosul — A huge blaze sparked by oil well fires burns near MosulCredit: Getty Images

A man poses to take a selfie in front of the billowing oil well fire — A man poses to take a selfie in front of the billowing oil well fireCredit: Getty Images

The fires were lit by the jihadis in a bid to obscure visibility of coalition fighter jets — The fires were lit by the jihadis in a bid to obscure visibility of coalition fighter jetsCredit: Getty Images

An Iraqi soldier gives the peace sign while standing in front of plumes of toxic smoke — An Iraqi soldier gives the peace sign while standing in front of plumes of toxic smokeCredit: Getty Images

Smoke rises from oil wells across the small towns neighbouring Mosul — Smoke rises from oil wells across the small towns neighbouring MosulCredit: Getty Images

A group of soldiers march through the scarred and war-torn landscape near Mosul — A group of soldiers march through the scarred and war-torn landscape near MosulCredit: Getty Images

Iraqi and Kurdish forces made advances on ISIS territory overnight — Iraqi and Kurdish forces made advances on ISIS territory overnightCredit: Getty Images

A peshmerga anti-aircraft gun blasts ISIS positions in Naweran, near Mosul — A peshmerga anti-aircraft gun blasts ISIS positions in Naweran, near MosulCredit: Reuters

Oil slicks are seen spread across the ground as smoke rises in the background — Oil slicks are seen spread across the ground as smoke rises in the backgroundCredit: Getty Images

The towns surrounding Mosul are the first step for the 30,000 troops aiming to retake the city — The towns surrounding Mosul are the first step for the 30,000 troops aiming to retake the cityCredit: Getty Images

"It's difficult for them to blend into the local population based on the number of different types of foreign fighters that there are."

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on Thursday the offensive in Mosul was progressing more quickly than originally planned.

His comments come as Kurdish peshmerga announced a three-pronged assault to the north and east of the city, while elite Iraqi special forces moved in from the south.

He said: "The forces are pushing towards the town more quickly than we thought and more quickly than we had programmed in our campaign plan."

A Kurdish peshmerga soldier loads an anti-tank missile during this morning's skirmishes — A Kurdish peshmerga soldier loads an anti-tank missile during this morning's skirmishesCredit: Reuters

A group of Iraqi children look across their battle-worn home — A group of Iraqi children look across their battle-worn homeCredit: Getty Images

Two girls arrive in the town of Al Qayyarah after it was liberated from ISIS — Two girls arrive in the town of Al Qayyarah after it was liberated from ISISCredit: Getty Images

The firefights which have occurred this week have already displaced hundreds of civilians — The firefights which have occurred this week have already displaced hundreds of civiliansCredit: Getty Images

Smoke from burning oil wells rises behind a group of civilians forced from their homes by the fighting — Smoke from burning oil wells rises behind a group of civilians forced from their homes by the fightingCredit: Getty Images

The addition of the elite troops, also known as counter terrorism forces, marks a significant intensification of the fight for Iraq's second-largest city.

As they advanced, attack helicopters fired on the militants and heavy gunfire echoed across the plains.

Major General Maan al-Saadi said the elite forces advanced on the town of Bartella with the aid of U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and heavy artillery on the fourth day of a massive operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city.

";God willing, we will take this town today," he said.

The militants fought back, unleashing at least four suicide car bombs against the advancing forces, one of which blew up after it was struck by tank fire.

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