Iraqi forces have launched a fresh round of offensive in a bid to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State after two weeks of lull, a report said.

It is the second phase of an attack on the last major stronghold of IS in Iraq, which began in October, according to the BBC report.

The US-led coalition said Iraqi forces had advanced in three directions, pushing into several eastern neighbourhoods.

The fresh offensive put pressure on the IS group's "ability to generate forces, move fighters or resupply", it said.