In Iraq, the offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul from ISIL continues. The jihadists are trickling out of the city as they suffer heavy casualties.

Iraqi soldiers reinforce to guard the Bartella frontline, east of Mosul, Iraq, on Oct. 26, 2016. Iraqi security forces on Wednesday inched to the eastern fringes of the city of Mosul, and made progress on other routes around the city preparing for the major battle to storm the city and drive out the Islamic State (IS) militant group from its last major stronghold in Iraq, a security source said. (Xinhua/Khalid Davood)

The head of the U.S. military’s Central Command said small groups of ISIL fighters wearing plain clothes have been seen slipping out of the city.

Some terrorists dumped their weapons to look like civilians, which has made it harder for coalition drones and planes to track them. Some presumably are heading toward Raqqa, the group’s stronghold in Syria.

Iraqi forces explored a network of tunnels and uncovered a bomb-making facility in a village near Mosul. Special forces are still at least six kilometers east of the city and have faced mortar and machine gun fire, as well as armored suicide truck bombs.