Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Sunday announced the launch of military operations to retake west Mosul from the Islamic State group, a statement from his media office said.

"The prime minister announced the launch of liberation operations on the western side of Mosul," a statement said.

Iraqi federal forces launched a huge offensive on October 17 to retake Mosul, the jihadists' last major bastion in the country, and secured the east bank of the city last month after weeks of fierce fighting.