HARI SREENIVASAN, PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND ANCHOR:

Iraqi army troops continue to close in taking back control of Mosul from ISIS militants who captured it three years ago. Mosul was the country's second- largest city after Baghdad. One U.S. commander says U.S. army forces are helping the Iraqis in a, quote, very close fight in the streets of Mosul. Many of the tens of thousands of civilians trapped by the fighting, with little food or water, are now trying to flee to safety.

"Reuters" reporter Stephen Kalin is covering the conflict, and joins me now via Skype from the Iraqi city of Irbil, about 60 miles east of Mosul.

On Thursday, the Iraqi prime minister said basically victory has been declared over the caliphate. You were just there in Mosul yesterday. What's it look like?