EghtesadOnline: Iraqi Shi'ite militias launched an offensive toward the west of Mosul on Saturday, an operation that will tighten the noose around Islamic State's Iraq stronghold but has alarmed Turkey and could inflame tensions in the mainly Sunni area.

EghtesadOnline: Iraqi Shi'ite militias backed by Iran said on Friday they would soon join the fight against Islamic State on a new front west of Mosul, a move which could block any retreat by the jihadists into Syria but might alarm Turkey and the United States.

EghtesadOnline: A Shi'ite paramilitary force said late on Tuesday it will support the Iraqi army's offensive on Mosul, Islamic State's last major stronghold in Iraq.