IS foreign fighters trying to flee Mosul, Iraqi forces to prevail, U.S. general says

An Iraqi special forces soldier fires a sniper rifle during a battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul. REUTERS/Goran Tomasevic

QAYYARA WEST AIRFIELD, Iraq (Reuters) - A U.S. general in the international coalition in Iraq says that Islamic State forces defending western Mosul are disorganised and some foreign fighters are trying to leave the city.

Government forces nontheless face a "very hard fight" in the battle for the city but they will prevail, U.S. Air Force Brigadier General Matthew Isler said.