The rockets were launched around 10:30 am, about half an hour after artillery was fired on frontline positions Iraqi troops have progressively abandoned since Wednesday.

The Iraqis have at least partially regrouped near Khazer, about a dozen kilometres (eight miles) from the positions, which are themselves located about 30 kilometres east of Mosul.

US-backed Kurdish fighters clashed on Thursday with Iraqi troops near Khazer, a strategic junction on the road to Mosul, as US special forces and Kurds advanced on the oil capital of Kirkuk.

SPACE.WIRE