Iraqi joint forces managed to prevent an attack from ISIS extremist group targeting Security points related to Popular Mobilization Forces in Diyala province, as they restored over 50 percent from Wadi Akkab area from the grip of the extremist group in the framework of the current operation to liberate Mousl. Meanwhile, Abdul-Ghani al-Assadi, commander of the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Forces, revealed ‘strategic’ changes to liberate the rest of the western side of Mosul.
Abdul-Ghani al-Assadi, commander of the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Forces, revealed ‘strategic’ changes to liberate the rest of the western side of Mosul. “Strategic changes to the military plan will eliminate the presence of IS in Mosul,” according to Assadi, who did not rule out possibility of changing the locations of the military units at the final phase of fighting in the city.
In the same context, Federal Police have declared killing dozens of Islamic State militants and destroying their anti-aircraft weapons as the troops advanced toward al-Haramat al-Thaniya district, in central Mosul, on Sunday. Clashes erupted between the Rapid Response forces and the militants while combing al-Haramat, according to Lt.Gen. Shaker Jawdat, chief of the Federal Police.
The troops, according to Jawdat, “killed dozens of IS members, blew up several booby-trapped vehicles, destroyed three anti-aircraft weapons and ammunition stash and defused 50 bombs.” Jawdat added that the troops advanced toward al-Haramat al-Thaniya reached near al-Jisr al-Khamis regions in central Mosul.
Jawdat said, in a press statement, that the troops are besieging the Grand al-Nuri al-Kabeer mosque, located in the Old City. The militants are taking shelter through thousands of the civilians in the densely-populated city. The troops are 300 meters away from the mosque, which is besieged from three axis. Jawdat said, adding that the troops are now in control of the high buildings.
A missile attack launched by Islamic State members has killed and injured civilians in western Mosul, a source was quoted as saying.
Four civilians were killed, while nine others were injured due to a missile attack launched by the militants against stores that sell food commodities located near Fathi al-Ali mosque in Mosul al-Jadida region, the source, who preferred anonymity, told Sputnik on Sunday.
Meanwhile, local residents said civilians were killed and injured on Sunday as airstrikes launched by the U.S-led coalition targeted IS havens in western Mosul. One civilian was killed, three others were injured due to the airstrikes launched by the international coalition against al-Iqtisadiyeen district, northwest of Mosul, said the residents.
On Saturday, the Nineveh Operations Command declared full liberation of Mesherfa region. Previously, the troops announced gaining full control on Hawi al-Kanisah region and taken over 50 percent of 17 Tamuz (July 17th) region in western Mosul.
The Iraqi troops opened last week a new front in the northwest of Mosul seeking crackdown on the militants in the Old City after weeks of attempts to invade the area from the south.
In Diyala, Iraqi member of the Local Council Karim Al Jabori revealed that ISIS extremist group launched an attack against the sites controlled by Popular Mobilization Forces, while the Armed Forces managed to prevent the attack with no humanitarian losses. He called the security forces for taking serious measures to cleanse the area from the extremist elements as soon as possible.
On the other hand, Iraqi police arrested a senior Islamic State area mayor during a security raid on Sunday on the city of Fallujah, Anbar, according to a police source. A police source added that they arrested the governor of Islamic State’s so-called “Wilayat al-Janoub” (Southern State) along with three others during a raid on Amiriyat al-Fallujah.
The source declined, however, to give details of the suspect’s identity, saying all of the arrested were taken for interrogation over involvement in attacks that had targeted security and civilians.