Iraqi general calls on Islamic militants in Mosul to surrender

KHAZER, Iraq — A senior Iraqi general on Wednesday called on Iraqis fighting for the Islamic State in Mosul to surrender as a wide-scale operation to retake the militant-held city entered its third day.

Islamic State has sent trucks loaded with explosives careening toward the front lines and fired mortars to slow the Iraqi forces’ advance.

Over the past day, Islamic State sent 12 car bombs, all of which were blown up before reaching their targets, he said, adding that Iraqi troops suffered a small number of casualties from the mortar rounds. .

To the north, air strikes pounded Bashiqa as Kurdish forces fired mortar rounds from an area overlooking the Islamic State-held town.

An estimated 25,000 troops, including Sunni tribal fighters, Kurdish forces and state-sanctioned Shiite militias are approaching the city from different directions.