Facing defeat in Mosul, Islamic State mounts diversionary attack to the south

An armoured personnel carrier of Iraqi security forces fire against Islamic State militants at the frontline in the Old City of Mosul, Iraq July 7, 2017. REUTERS/Ahmed Saad

MOSUL/TIKRIT, Iraq (Reuters) - Islamic State militants attacked a village south of Mosul, killing several people including two journalists, even as they were about to lose their last redoubt in the city to an Iraqi military onslaught, security sources said on Friday.

The assault on Imam Gharbi village appeared to be the sort of diversionary, guerrilla-style strike Islamic State is expected to employ as U.S.-backed Iraqi forces regain control over cities IS captured in a shock 2014 offensive.