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Mosul Offensive News


ISIS chemical bomb expert dies in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State militant, the group’s chlorine bombs expert, was killed mysteriously in western Mosul as the group builds up defenses anticipating a security offensive.

Reports quoted a local source in Nineveh as saying that the so-nicknamed Abu Yaha al-Iraqi, 44, was killed near his residence in Islah al-Zeraie district in “mysterious circumstances”. He was referred to as the “engineer” of the group’s chlorine bombs.

“Al-Iraqi’s family had disappeared before his death,” the source said, noting that the fact adds to the mystery around his killers. The group was unmoved by his death, which makes it possible that its members were the perpetrators, as he put it.

IS lost the eastern section of Mosul to Iraqi government forces on January 24th after three months of battles that left at least 3000 of its fighters dead.

Since security operations launched to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city and IS’s largest stronghold, the group has been ravaged with both combat losses and internal divisions. There had been several reports of infighting and assassinations of senior group figures, while others told of executions of delinquent fighters.

Iraqi forces are awaiting higher orders to carry on with an invasion of the group’s strongholds in the west.

Kurd forces attack ISIS HQ in western Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Media Official of Peshmerga forces in Sinjar District announced on Saturday, that the Kurdish forces attacked strongholds and headquarters of the Islamic State in the area.

Khalil Shafan said in a press statement, “Kurdish Peshmerga forces attacked three headquarters of the Islamic State in Rambousi Village and Telskuf area.”

“There is no accurate information about the group’s losses,” Shafan added.

“The Kurdish forces are targeting all movements of the Islamic State’s militants in the area,” Shafan explained.

“Last night, Peshmerga forces located members of the Islamic State in the areas of al-Baaj and al-Balij, where the militants were trying to flee toward Syria,” he further added.

Shafan also declared that the Kurdish security forces are waiting for President of Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani’s orders to liberate the remaining areas of Sinjar from the Islamic State’s control.

Coalition warbirds hit ISIS positions in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh Operations Command announced on Sunday, that the international coalition warplanes attacked important locations of the Islamic state in western Mosul.

Commander of Nineveh Operations Command, Major General Najim al-Jabouri, said in a press statement, “The US-led coalition attacked strategic locations of the Islamic State group in western Mosul,” adding that, “Elite Arab and foreign leaders of the Islamic State were killed by the air strike.”

Jabouri also pointed out that the coalition warplanes also bombarded caches of weapons, rockets and explosives, belonging to the Islamic State in al-Zira’i area in Mosul, as well as bombing medical laboratories belonging to the group.

5 die in ISIS artillery attacks in Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A member of Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service declared on Sunday, that dozens of civilians and security members were either killed or wounded by drone and booby-trapped vehicle attacks launched by the Islamic State on eastern and south of Mosul.

Major Ali Mohsen said in a press statement, “The Islamic State bombed the areas of al-Shaimaa, al-Moalmeen, Nabi Yunus, al-Mithaq and al-Sediq, using drones.”

“The Islamic State bombardment resulted in the killing of five persons, including two security members, as well as wounding others,” Mohsen added.

Meanwhile, the Islamic State launched another attack, using a booby-trapped vehicle, on south of Mosul.

Police Captain Mohamed Abdel Karim said, “A booby-trapped vehicle, driven by a suicide bomber, targeted a Federal Police headquarters in al-Arbaj Village in Hamam al-Alil, south of Mosul, followed by another attack launched by dozens of militants on the same area.”

“Security forces repulsed the attack that lasted for more than an hour, and forces the Islamic State militants to flee,” he explained.

“The attacks resulted in the killing of one officer and the injury of six soldiers, as well as destroying two vehicles, while five members of the Islamic State were killed, and a vehicle belonging to the group was destroyed, in addition to seizing 11 light and medium weapons” Abdel Karim further added.

Furthermore, Abdel Karim pointed out that the Islamic State group was trying to impose its control on the headquarters, and then advance toward other locations.

Posted by: badanov 2017-02-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=481110