An Iraqi special forces soldier (1st photo) climbs down a tunnel used by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria militants inside a house in the town of Bartalla, east of Mosul, while another soldier (2nd photo) inspects a similar tunnel inside an eatery in Bazwaia village. Bartalla was recaptured by Iraqi forces last week. The Iraqi forces, backed by a US-led coalition, are advancing towards Mosul, as Washington urged quick action to retake Raqqa in Syria, another ISIS stronghold where the militants are believed to be planning terror attacks on the West.

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US pushes for assault on Raqqa to foil ISIS plots against West