In Mosul Fight, Winter Delays Slow Push to Tal Afar

As Iraqi forces move deeper into Mosul on the eastern side of the city, battles continue in the western desert between Mosul and Syria as forces close in on Tal Afar, a key city where Islamic State militants are expected to launch a bitter defense. But soldiers from the Shia militias known locally as Hashd Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization forces, say operations are slowing as winter sets in and increasing numbers of civilians are being held as human shields. VOA’s Heather Murdock has more.