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Mosul Offensive News


Iraqi forces attack last ISIS position in east Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi joint government forces stormed on Monday the last district hosting Islamic State militants in the eastern section of Mosul, with the total recapture of that region expected for announcement within hours.

Sputnik news agency quoted an Iraqi army captain as saying that forces from the 9th and the 16th divisions stormed al-Rashidiya district in the north of the city under an aerial cover by fighter jets from the U.S.-led international coalition against IS.

The source expected the government to declare the full recapture of eastern Mosul within hours, which would be the most remarkable victory over the extremist group since a campaign was launched to retake the city in mid October.

After retaking eastern Mosul, Iraqi generals hope to move immediately beyond the Tigris River towards Islamic State strongholds in the west, where military observers predict a tougher battle due to the higher density of the population.

IS militants have reportedly withdrew from the east to the west, with many reportedly killed upon crossing Tigris River to the other side. Many group leaders have been killed, according to news reports and military statements by Iraqi and international coalition commanders. Counter-Terrorism Forces said last week they had killed 3300 militants since the start of operations.

Sofian Abdulelah al-Hamadani, a commander at the 16th division, was quoted Monday as saying that IS deployed snipers above houses overlooking the western ban of Tigris River, also erecting concrete roadblocks and closed most of the streets at that region.

The conflict in Mosul has displaced at least 181.000 civilians, according to the Iraqi government, and the United Nations had said the conflict would threaten to displacement at least one million.

ISIS recruiter dies in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A senior Islamic State leader responsible for recruiting foreign members was killed in an Iraqi airstrike in western Mosul, a security official was quoted as saying.

The strike, which was carried out three days ago, targeted al-Mazlomin village at the IS-held strategic town of Tal Afar, and killed Abbas Suleiman Ismail AlHaider, aka Abu Aesha, along with four other Azerbaijani nationals, according to a security source.

Iraqi government forces have approached the final districts in eastern Mosul where Islamic State militants locate. The liberation of that region after three months of operations would be the most remarkable victory over the extremist group since a campaign was launched to retake the city in mid October.

After retaking eastern Mosul, Iraqi generals hope to move immediately beyond the Tigris River towards Islamic State strongholds in the west, where military observers predict a tougher battle due to the higher density of the population.

IS militants have reportedly withdrew from the east to the west, with many reportedly killed upon crossing Tigris River to the other side. Many group leaders have been killed, according to news reports and military statements by Iraqi and international coalition commanders. Counter-Terrorism Forces said last week they had killed 3300 militants since the start of operations.

The conflict in Mosul has displaced at least 181.000 civilians, according to the Iraqi government, and the United Nations had said the conflict would threaten to displacement at least one million.

Iraqi forces capture north Mosul district

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi joint government forces recaptured on Monday another district in northern Mosul from Islamic State militants, one in a handful of spots remaining within the extremist group’s grip.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement forces recaptured the district of Qawsiyat and a few other neighboring villages. Its announcement comes a few hours after military sources told Sputnik News that troops had invaded the district of Rashidiya.

The ministry’s statement added that more than 50 islamic State militants were killed in the Monday battles, while six vehicles, a booby-trapping workshop and C4 jerrycans used by them were seized and destroyed.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said last week that troops had to free a few districts in northern Mosul to declare the eastern section of the city as totally IS-free, which would be the most remarkable victory over the extremist group since a campaign was launched to retake the city in mid October.

After retaking eastern Mosul, Iraqi generals hope to move immediately beyond the Tigris River towards Islamic State strongholds in the west, where military observers predict a tougher battle due to the higher density of the population.

A source at the Joint Operations Command said in a press statement on Monday that floating bridges had been extended above the Tigris River, preparing for the forces to move for battles at the western section of Mosul. He added that Iraqi fighter jets began to bombard IS locations in the west preparing for the battles, predicting a tougher battle there due to the density of the population residing narrow residential areas that are difficult to invade with military vehicles.


Posted by: badanov 2017-01-24
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=479407