Iraqi joint forces resumed their advance in the western area of the Iraqi city of Mousl, as they managed to liberate new areas in the framework of the current operations to liberate the city from the grip of ISIS extremist group. Meanwhile, ISIS terror group has executed 17 families in Mosul's western bank in a new massacre, as they were attempting to escape from the city.
Spokesperson of International Coalition John Dorian said that the Iraqi security forces were able to control more than 30 square kilometers west of the city of Mosul from the grip of ISIS extremist group, saying that as Iraqi security forces advanced, they were confronted by enemy snipers as well as booby-trapped vehicles, in addition to human shields.
In the same context, Sixteen Islamic State members were killed, a booby-trapping workshop was destroyed in airstrikes in several parts in western Mosul, the War Media Cell said.
In a statement, the WMC media service said “The Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes that killed four terrorists who were targeting the security troops as well as liberated regions in al-Refaie district in western Mosul.”
“An underground weapon stash was destroyed. Six terrorists were killed, while others were destroyed on 17 Tamuz [July 17th] district. Booby-trapped and armored vehicles were destroyed, while three terrorists were killed in Hatra region,” the service added.
“A booby-trapping workshop was destroyed, while three terrorists including two foreigners were killed in Tal Afar town,” according to the statements.
In related news, Federal Police Chief Lt.Gen. Shaker Jawdat indicated crackdown on the IS militants in al-Jisr al-Khamis region killing six members and liberating 70 percent of al-Haramat al-Thaniya district. He also announced controlling an ammunition stash as well as approaching toward al-Iqtisadiyeen district with 500 meters.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Nineveh operations command said the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service forces killed Abu Ayoub al-Shami, IS military commander for the Islah al-Zeraie district, along with three of his aides. The troops also took over al-Maamel.
On the other hand, Thousands more people are fleeing Mosul every day since Iraqi troops began their new push into the last Islamic State (ISIS)-held areas of the city last week.
Food and water are running out and the fighting has killed increasing numbers of civilians.
"We had endured gunfire, mortars and death and missiles cruising overhead. They [Iraqi security forces] asked us how we could stand all the fighting and we told them that we were fed up of such a life. We have had enough, but thank God, we have been saved," Mosul civilian Qatra al-Nada Abdullah said.
"Fighting has been very intense over the past five or six days,” Umm Mohammed, a displaced woman from Harmat said. “Gunfire never ceased. We could not even venture out to go to the toilet. Today at two o'clock at dawn, the army entered the area and saved us."
More than 22,000 people have fled Mosul since the U.S.-backed forces opened a new front in the northwest of the city on May 4 to try to finally dislodge the militants, the United Nations said on Wednesday, citing Iraqi government figures.
In the past two days alone, more than 11,000 people have passed through a screening site at the Hammam al-Alil camp south of Mosul.
ISIS fighters are shooting people who try to escape, although some men have been allowed to go in exchange for taking militants' families with them, one woman said.
The newly displaced people join an exodus from Mosul of more than 600,000 people in the seven months since Iraqi forces began their offensive there. Roughly 400,000 of those are from the western side of the city which is bisected by the River Tigris.
Trapped in a steadily shrinking area of the city, ISIS militants are fighting back with a barrage of suicide car bombs and snipers concealed amongst hundreds of thousands of civilians they are effectively holding hostage.
ISIS militants captured Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, when they swept across the country's north in the summer of 2014. Iraqi forces have gradually clawed back territory since then, and launched a massive operation to retake Mosul in October last year.
On his hand, leader of Sadrist movement Moktada Al Sadr rebuked the kidnap of Iraqi activists, blaming the militias of Popular Mobilization Forces for such actions that could destabilize the country. He added that these militias pose serious threat against the future of the country after ISIS.