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| Iraq |
| Mosul Offensive News |
| 2016-10-19 |
| Iraqi kops launch 2nd phase of operations (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Qayyarah police announced on Tuesday launching the second phase of the battle to liberate Mosul, and revealed that the majority of the ISIS members withdrew from the villages and areas of Mosul toward the center of the city. Qayyarah Police Chief, Captain Fathy, said in a statement, “The second phase of the battle to liberate Mosul has been started where the city will be intensely besieged,” pointing out that, “The coming few hours will witness cheerful victories after storming into the center of the city.” “The ISIS members withdrew from the villages and areas of Mosul toward the center of the city,” Fathy added. “There is a remarkable cooperation between Iraqi forces and the people of the province,” Fathy explained. The battle to liberate Mosul was launched early yesterday after being announced by General Commander of Armed Forces, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, to liberate the city from the ISIS grip. Iraqi kops capture 56 oilfields near Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Iraqi police forces managed to recapture 56 oil fields from ISIS, south of Mosul, Al Mada Press reported on Tuesday. Al Mada stated that “this morning, Iraqi Federal Police forces managed to recapture 56 oil fields from ISIS control near the area of Ain al-Gahsh in Qayyarah axis, south of Mosul.” “Security forces are still achieving progress on all battle fronts to liberate the city of Mosul,” Al Mada added. ISIS took over the city of Mosul two years ago and extended its activities to other areas of Iraq. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced yesterday the launch of an offensive to liberate the city of Mosul, the last major stronghold of ISIS in Iraq. ISIS HQ hit by airstrikes 16 times (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Commander of Iraqi Army Aviation, General Hamed al-Maliki, announced on Tuesday, that the Army Aviation, Iraqi Air Force and international coalition air force carried out 16 air strikes against the ISIS in Mosul. Maliki said in a press statement, “This battle is so special to us, so we decided to deploy more than 40 aircraft in it.” “The aircraft of Army Aviation, Iraqi Air Force and international coalition air forces conducted 16 air strikes on the ISIS headquarters in Mosul,” Maliki explained. “More than 13 ISIS targets were destroyed, in addition to killing 35 ISIS militants,” Maliki added. Earlier today, the second phase of the battle to liberate Mosul was launched, while that the majority of the ISIS members withdrew from the villages and areas of the province toward the center of the city. Iraqi forces capture al-Shura area (IraqiNews.com) Baghdad – Mayor of Shura vicinity in Nineveh province, Khalid al-Jar announced on Tuesday, that the security forces liberated al-Shura district, south of the city of Mosul, from the control of the ISIS, while emphasized that forces from the Army and Federal Police entered the area. Jar said in a press statement, “Forces from the Federal Police and armored brigades of the Iraqi army entered al-Shura district (45 km south of Nineveh), and managed to liberate it from the control of the ISIS.” “The security forces imposed their control over the center of the district, after a quick operation,” Jad added. Earlier today, Federal Police announced liberating of Tel al-Samn area, while confirmed that its forces are close to liberate al-Shura district, south of the city of Mosul. Yesterday, General Commander of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced launching the battle to liberate the city of Mosul from the grip of ISIS. The joint security forces backed by the Army Aviation and international coalition air force made a significant progress in the battle to liberate Mosul. Large areas liberated from ISIS control south of Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Qayyarah police announced on Tuesday, that the joint security forces liberate 80% of the areas south of Mosul, and pointed out to the cooperation between the security forces that are participating in the battles. Qayyarah Police Chief, Captain Fathy, said in a statement, “The army’s 9th brigade and Nineveh police achieved notable victories in the areas south of Mosul, from Hamdaniyah district to the Tigris River that include nearly 54 villages,” adding that, “The joint security forces managed to liberate 80% of these areas until now.” “The ISIS is attacking the joint security forces using explosive belts and booby-trapped vehicles,” Fathy explained. “The security forces managed to repulse the majority of attacks backed by the army’s aviation and artillery,” Fathy added. Qayyarah Police Chief also pointed out to the remarkable cooperation between all ranks of security forces that are participating in the battle to liberate Mosul, and revealed that no families migrated from Mosul until now. Kurds prepare major operation to retake Bashiqa from ISIS [ARA News] Bashiqa – Thousands of Peshmerga forces are preparing for a major military operation to take the town of Bashiqa from the Islamic State (ISIS) radical group. The Peshmerga’s General Commander of the Bashiqa operation, Bahram Ali Siyasi, told ARA News on Tuesday that thousands of Kurdish forces will participate in the battle to liberate Bashiqa District. ISIS is expected to show some resistance in the battle for Bashiqa, according to Kurdish commander. More than 30,000 civilians used to inhabit Bashiqa, including Christians, Arabs, Kurds and Shia. After ISIS’ invasion in August 2014, most of the inhabitants fled to the Kurdistan region. Nevertheless, in the villages around Bashiqa there are still some civilians stranded by ISIS. Some civilians were killed by ISIS when they tried to go to Peshmerga-controlled territory. “The social coexistence in Bashiqa still exists in Kurdistan, and after Bashiqa is liberated the people can return to their homes and the process of democracy will continue,” Peshmerga General Bahram Ali Siyasi told ARA News. ISIS has laid many mines and explosives in the town and had over two years to prepare. For the last few months, ISIS militants have been firing artillery on Kurdish positions near Bashiqa mountain, and the Peshmerga forces are eager to take the fight to ISIS. “This operation will be bigger than that of Khazir. While in Khazir it was around 10 villages, here are more than 20 villages and Bashiqa town itself. This operation will have more ground and more has to be captured,” Siyasi said. The commander also denied that Turkey-trained Sunni Arab forces or the Turkish army itself will be part of the operation. “Until now there is no role for Turkey in Bashiqa, but the [Turkey-backed] Hashd al-Watani [Nujayfi’s militia] will take part in the operation of Mosul, not in Bashiqa,” he said. According to the commander, there is a high-level coordination between the Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Iraqi Army and the US-led coalition in the war on ISIS. “The morale of ISIS is gone; they have become very weak. Whereas the Peshmerga’s morale is high and their capabilities have improved, and the coalition has stepped up its support,” Siyasi told ARA News. Moreover, he said that the Iraqi army has improved a lot since June 2014 when they fled from Mosul city. “They have liberated Ramadi, Tikrit, Fallujah and Shirt. They have improved a lot and will be able to destroy the terrorists,” he said. The Peshmerga General said the operation might reach the gates of the city of Mosul in a few weeks. However, the Peshmerga forces will most likely stay on the outskirts of Mosul as part of the agreement with Baghdad while Iraqi forces will go inside Mosul city. “If they need us, we will enter the city,” he said. |
| Posted by:badanov |