VOA常速英语2017--攻克摩苏尔之战异常艰辛（在线收听）

The Iraqi army, backed by helicopters, advanced on western Mosul and pushed into the area around the al-Nuri mosque.

伊拉克军队在直升机的支持下，进军到了摩苏尔西部，并推进到了努尔大清真寺(al-Nuri Mosque)。

Taking the mosque where Islamic State leader gave a much publicized sermon in July of 2014 is a symbolic victory for the government. But retaking the Old City of Mosul is riddled with challenges.

收复这间寺庙对于伊拉克政府来说是巨大的成功，因为这里是IS领导人2014年7月进行公开布道之地。不过，重新收复摩苏尔老城依然挑战重重。

It is one of the toughest areas, and in fact it is difficult, chaotic and very tight, but our forces managed to get out of their vehicles and enter the Old City.

这里是最难攻克的地区之一，这里真的非常困难，混乱不堪，条件匮乏，但我们的军队还是克服困难，亲身实地地攻入摩苏尔城内。

Militants are believed to be using suicide bombers to block the advance of government troops. Military officials say fighting in the densely populated Old City is extremely difficult.

据称，IS分子试图用自杀式爆炸者来阻挡政府军的攻入。军方相关人士表示，摩苏尔人口稠密，让战斗变得极为困难。

"The challenges are, firstly, how to avoid hitting civilians because they are using them as human shields. And secondly, the area is difficult because it is in an ancient neighborhood and we use less heavy weapons.

“挑战首先就是怎样避免伤到平民，因为IS用平民当肉盾。其二是，攻克这个地区很困难，因为这是古老的城区，所以我们要尽量少用重型武器。”

Civilians are streaming out of western Mosul with meager possessions and people wounded by landmines or booby traps.

很多平民从摩苏尔西部一涌而出，只带了少量物品，但还是有很多人被地雷和陷阱所伤。

There are bodies lying on the ground; they were killed by booby traps under the car at this corner. They passed and stepped on the wire. There are 15 dead bodies; they've started to rot. We wanted to take them, but the militants didn't let us. They shot at us.

遍地都是尸体，他们被这个角车辆下面设置的陷阱所杀。他们经过的时候踩到了电线上。这里有15具尸体，已经开始腐烂。我们想安置他们的尸体，但受到了IS分子的阻挠。IS分子对我们开枪。

The Iraqi government launched a massive U.S.-backed operation in October to retake Mosul from Islamic State. About 250,000 people have been displaced from the area since that battle began.

去年10月，伊拉克政府在美军行动的支持下开展了大规模行动以收复摩苏尔。自从那场战争开展以来，这个地区已有25万人流离失所。

The situation is terrible. Islamic State militants have destroyed us. There is no food. There is no bread. There is nothing.

现在的形势糟糕。IS分子也让我们损失惨重。我们现在没有食物。什么都没有。

But those who have escaped feel lucky. More than a half-million civilians remain trapped by the militants in the Old City of Mosul.

虽然逃出去的人感到十分幸运，但摩苏尔城内还是有50多万人深困于IS分子的水深火热之中。