Iraqi forces capture 2 central Mosul sectors
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi security forces moved deeper inside central Mosul on Sunday, recapturing two neighborhoods while killing and arresting several Islamic State militants.
A security source was quoted by Skypress saying the forces took full control of Khaled ibn al-Walid and Bab al-Sijn neighborhoods near central Mosul’s Old City, opening safe exit routes for civilians. The troops moved on to al-Matahen (mills) area, killing 17 militants, including two suicide bombers, according to the agency.
Also near the Old City, Borhan al-Abdali, a lieutenant at the army’s Counter-Terrorism Force, told Anadolu Agency his forces retook Fatah al-Ali, an alleyway in the nearby Mosul al-Jadida district, killing 14 militants after two hours of intense fighting. Abdali quoted civilians reporting of many militants throwing their weapons and escaping to nearby alleyways.
Iraqi Federal Police chief said Sunday his forces arrested a senior Islamic State leader in western Mosul, while Kurdish Peshmerga forces said they killed others.
Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat said police arrested Hossam Shiit al-Jubouri, the official in charge of the extremist group’s hisbah (vigilantism) office in western Mosul’s Bab al-Sijn district.
The IS body had acted as a disciplinary police force, arresting violators of the group’s extremist rule. Many of its offices reportedly closed upon the launch of Iraqi government operations to retake western Mosul mid February.
In the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Kurdish Peshmerga forces also said they killed a senior Islamic State leader, identified as Taha Gawish, and an unidentified number of his aides, in an artillery shelling at Baki Quot village near the strategic town.
his forces were very close to the Grand Nuri Mosque in Old Mosul, another primary target for Iraqi security forces seeking to eradicate IS from western Mosul since February.
“Federal Police troops have become very close to liberating al-Hadbaa Minaret, the second most important strategic target in western Mosul after the liberated government buildings,” Jawdat said, using the Arabic common reference to the mosque’s “leaning” minaret.
The Nuri Mosque was the location where IS supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi delivered his famous sermon in 2014 to declare the establishment of a self-styled “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq, appointing himself as a Caliph “ruler” of the proclaimed state.
Jawdat added that his forces, advancing towards the mosque, killed tens of militants and destroyed 23 booby-trapped vehicles.
Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul from IS in January after three months of fighting.
Government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition have made remarkable achievements since February, retaking main government buildings, the city’s airport and a major military base. The troops have recently pushed deeper into the Old City, a densely-populated and -structured area which military officials view as central to the desired victory over IS militants.
17 ISIS Baddies die in western Mosul attack
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A Federal Police Officer announced on Sunday, that 17 members of the Islamic State were killed, while trying to attack security forces in the liberated areas, west of Mosul.
Colonel Khodeir Saleh said in a press statement that security forces repulsed an attack, launched by the Islamic State group, on the liberated areas of al-Resala and Naples, west of Mosul.
The battles resulted in the killing of 17 members of the Islamic State group, including five suicide bombers, as well as arresting three foreign militants, the source added on condition of anonymity.
Noteworthy, the Islamic State is occasionally attacking the liberated areas, while security forces and al-Hashd militia manage to repulse these attacks, as well as inflicting heavy losses on the terrorist group.
Iraqi forces detain 15 ISIS suspects in Mosul
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) An officer in Nineveh Operations Command revealed on Sunday, that Iraqi army forces arrested 15 members of the Islamic State group, during extensive search operations conducted in al-Qayyarah area, south of Mosul.
Major Aziz Tayeh said in a press statement that security forces carried out search and raid operations, based on accurate intelligence information, in the area of Qayyarah, south of Mosul.
The operations resulted in arresting 15 members of the Islamic State group, after raiding houses containing weapons and equipment, including dozens of missiles, rockets and adhesive explosive devices, the source added on condition of anonymity.
The source further explained that security forces transferred the detainees to the headquarters of Nineveh Operations Command for interrogation.
Iraqi spec ops group captures Naples area in Mosul
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) We Are Coming, Nineveh Operations Command announced on Sunday, that the Counter-Terrorism troops liberated Naples neighborhood, and raised Iraqi flag over its buildings.
Commander of operations, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, said in a press statement that the Counter-Terrorism troops managed to liberate Naples neighborhood, as well as raising Iraqi flag over its buildings.
Google Maps view of the neighborhood of Naples (marked) in western Mosul.
The security forces also inflicted heavy human and material losses on the enemy, Yarallah added.
Nineveh Province is witnessing extensive military operations, after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced launching an offensive to liberate the western side of the city of Mosul, in addition to capturing the last stronghold of the Islamic State in the city.
Iraq is witnessing an extraordinary security situation, where ongoing military operations take place to drive out the Islamic State, while the US-led international coalition intensifies its air strikes on the group’s headquarters.
Google Map at the link