ISIS extremist group witnessed the biggest defection since its establishment in Iraq due to the recent military developments in the Iraqi city of Mousl, as the Iraqi troops resumed their advance in the city controlling the old district and the surrounding areas of Nuri Mosque on Friday.
The extremist elements attempt to confront the Iraqi troops inside the old district, as experts believe that it will witness tough fighting in the surrounding areas of the mosque from which the group’s leader Abu Baker Al Baghdadi announced the establishment of the Caliphate state three years ago.
Head of security committee of Deyali Council Sadek Al Husseini revealed that they received information over defection among the extremist elements in the governorate. He added that the defection, which is considered the biggest of its kind since the group’s establishment, comes in the framework of their difference over the ways to defend the areas they control during the coming period.
On the other hand, Iraqi leaders said that the fight to restore Mousl is close to its end, while they warned of the humanitarian crisis that hit the residents of the besieged areas. They praised the recent victories achieved by the Iraqi army during the recent months, stressing that the extremist group would be eliminated from the country in the near future.
Iraqi government forces besieged Islamic State militants around Mosul’s Old City on Thursday, edging closer to the historic mosque from where the group’s leader declared a caliphate nearly three years ago. The militants, holed up in houses and darting through alleyways, resisted with sniper fire, suicide attacks and car bombs.
Though heavy rain hampered the advance, Federal Police and rapid response unit troops reached points about 500 m (yards) from the centuries-old al-Nuri Mosque by Thursday morning. The black jihadist flag was clearly visible draped from its famous leaning minaret.
The government forces have made significant gains in recent days in a battle that started in October, seizing a main bridge over the Tigris river and closing in on the mosque. “We are holding positions we took yesterday. There is a lot of resistance in that area with snipers and car bombs,” said Federal Police Major General Haider Dhirgham