KHAZER, Iraq — Iraqi special forces east of Mosul probed a network of underground tunnels and uncovered a bomb-making facility on Thursday in a village recently retaken from the Islamic State group as their allies battled the militants in a push toward the city from the south.

Special forces commanders said the operation was proceeding as planned, but that they were waiting for forces in the south to advance further before resuming their push toward the country’s second largest city, which fell to IS in 2014.

“The operation has not been stopped and is proceeding as planned,” special forces Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil said.