Iraqi forces have captured Mosul airport hours after they launched a major offensive against Islamic State, which controls the western half of the city, state television reports.

“The Rapid Response Forces and federal police are fully in control of the airport of Mosul,” state television said in a flash on its screen.

The two-pronged advance is part of a major assault that started earlier this week to drive IS from the western half of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city.

The Iraqi federal police units, backed by regular army forces, entered the airport on Thursday morning, according to police officials who said heavy clashes were underway hours later with IS militants hunkered down inside several airport buildings.

The commander of Iraqi Nineveh operations, Major General Najim al-Jubouri told EFE that at least 17 IS militants were killed in the first hours of fighting, during which the international coalition aviation launched 50 bombings.

In addition to storming the airport, the army attacked the nearby camp of al-Ghazlani and Tel al-Raman and al-Maamun neighbourhoods.

Recapturing both facilities, located on the southern outskirts of Mosul, would boost Iraq’s mission to regain the western section of the city, which is still under IS control.