MOSUL (Reuters) - Iraqi counter-terrorism forces have discovered tunnels used by the Islamic State as escape routes in Bartella and Bazwaia.

Some of the tunnels are as deep as 10m and were used for meetings in addition to being escape routes.

The villages around Mosul, home to about 1.5 million people, have been rigged by militants with explosives, mines and booby traps.

Iraqi forces have recently launched an operative to oust Islamic State from its last stronghold in Iraq.