Jump directly to the content

HARROWING footage has emerged showing the moment a starving and injured boy is finally rescued after hiding in a basement for 20 days as the battle for Mosul raged on around him.

The malnourished-looking young lad is pictured crossing Iraqi army lines along with other civilians in a clip from Kurdish news channel Rudaw.

The boy told reporters he found it hard to move because of his injuries
11
The boy told reporters he found it hard to move because of his injuriesCredit: Rudaw
The lad said he hid in a basement for 20 days as the battle raged around him
11
The lad said he hid in a basement for 20 days as the battle raged around himCredit: Rudaw
The young man was part of a group of civilians seen crossing Iraqi lines in Mosul
11
The young man was part of a group of civilians seen crossing Iraqi lines in MosulCredit: Rudaw

The reporter asks an adult walking with the boy – who is bandaged around his waist – what is wrong with him.

The man replies that he has been injured for 20 days, gesturing towards the bandaged area.

The boy tells the journalist: “It hurts a lot. I cannot move.”

Iraqi forces are pushing to retake the last patch of ground in Mosul where ISIS fanatics are desperately fighting to cling on to the ground they still control.

The militants are holding on to a tiny sliver of the Old City, west of the Tigris River, a day after the Iraqi PM visited troops to congratulate them on the hard-fought battle.

Haider al-Abadi declared “victory” in the city, almost all of which has now been “liberated”.

A picture of the Great Mosque of Mosul in April this year
11
A picture of the Great Mosque of Mosul in April this yearCredit: Getty Images
Dark smoke floats over the blackened ruins of Mosul, northern Iraq after months of fighting 
11
Dark smoke floats over the blackened ruins of Mosul, northern Iraq after months of fighting Credit: Getty Images

Most read in news

3 women dead after 'eating cake baked by their sister' as cops launch probe
'DEADLY CAKE'

3 women dead after 'eating cake baked by their sister' as cops launch probe

Couple killed in hit & run may have pushed child to safety as details emerge
TRAGIC PARENTS

Couple killed in hit & run may have pushed child to safety as details emerge

Watch moment dad of sex abuse teacher's victim dubs her ‘f***ing monster’
RAPE TEACHER

Watch moment dad of sex abuse teacher's victim dubs her ‘f***ing monster’

Women knifed to death on Xmas Day as boy yelled 'he's going to kill me'
'HORROR MOVIE' 

Women knifed to death on Xmas Day as boy yelled 'he's going to kill me'

Brigadier General Haider Fadhil of the Iraqi special forces says his men – closely backed by coalition airstrikes – are continuing to advance and clear territory in the Old City today.

Iraqi commanders say they believe hundreds of ISIS fighters still remain inside the neighbourhood.

A large dark cloud of smoke billows in the Old City of Mosul during the Iraqi force fight against ISIS
11
A large dark cloud of smoke billows in the Old City of Mosul during the Iraqi force fight against ISISCredit: Getty Images
Much of Mosul has been reduced to rubble after months of fighting
11
Much of Mosul has been reduced to rubble after months of fightingCredit: Getty Images
Destroyed vehicles lay amongst the rubble in the Old City of Mosul
11
Destroyed vehicles lay amongst the rubble in the Old City of MosulCredit: Getty Images
Military vehicle of Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) seen through another military vehicle in the Old City of Mosul yesterday
11
Military vehicle of Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) seen through another military vehicle in the Old City of Mosul yesterdayCredit: Reuters
Iraqi security forces walk along destroyed buildings from clashes in the Old City of Mosul
11
Iraqi security forces walk along destroyed buildings from clashes in the Old City of MosulCredit: Reuters
11

And these hard core fanatics are said to be using their own families – including women and children – as human shields.

Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake Mosul last October and began the weeks-long push through the Old City district in June.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368

 

Topics
YOU MIGHT LIKE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MORE FOR YOU