new developments in the battle for mosul. coalition forces closing in on the iraqi city. iraqi and peshmerga troops are miles from the city. the coalition has freed dozens of villages of isis occupation. hundreds of isis fighters are fleeing for syria. cnn's michael holmes on the ground near mosul. michael, what do you see? >> reporter: yes, john. i can tell you we have been keeping an eye on this situation for last two or three days. kurdish forces with a victory surrounding the town and eight other villages. they have been forced back by