| Events of Thursday, May 18: |
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Federal Police forces have become in control over 291 square kilometers of western Mosul as operations running since February reach the Islamic State’s last havens.
Federal Police chief Shaker Jawdat said Thursday that his forces had also evacuated 270.000 civilians since operations launched in February 19th to retake western Mosul.
“The group (Islamic State) resorted to submerging sewage networks at the south of 17 Tamuz with petroleum and setting it on fire in order to prevent our drones from tracking its defeated members towards the Old City,” Jawdat stated.
Iraqi troops invade western Mosul district, kill militants in airstrike
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army has invaded another district as troops resume their advance in the western side of Mosul, a source said.
Speaking to Shafaaq News, the source said that the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service raided al-Najjar district, recapturing half of it.
Hundreds of Islamic State families publicly fled al-Najjar and the remaining IS-held districts in western Mosul, along with civilians heading toward the liberated regions.
In related news, the War Media Cell reported that Iraqi fighter jets F16 have destroyed a booby-trapping workshop, killing several IS militants in an airstrike launched in western Mosul.
In a statement on Thursday, the WMC said “the airstrike destroyed all weapons and explosive substances that were inside the workshop, located on al-Shifa district, in western Mosul.”
“The jets also destroyed two IS locations, one of them was used for telecommunications. A bomb factory in Tal Afar town was also destroyed,” the statement added.
Iraqi troops free two Yazidi girls from IS captivity in western Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops have freed two captivated Yazidi girls in western Mosul, AlSumaria News reported on Thursday.
Federal Police’s Rapid Response forces were able to liberate two Yazidi girls, who were held by Islamic State militants in 17 Tamuz (July 17th) district, in western Mosul, the news report mentioned.
The two girls were in good health condition, it added.
IS abducted and executed hundreds of Yazidis after it took over Sinjar district, a Mosul region on the borders with Syria. News reports mentioned that the captives were distributed among the fighters in Iraq and Syria.
After Sinjar fell to IS in August 2014, thousands of Yazidi Kurds fled Sinjar to nearby mountain areas. In March, revealed data showed that 2,915 Yazidis, including nearly 1500 children, were rescued from IS captivity, while more than 3500, including nearly 1500 children, were still held by the extremist group. The ethno-religious minority of Yazidis came to the spotlight when Islamic State militants, taking over large parts of Iraq, victimized its members, massacred, enslaved and tortured thousands of the community members.
| Events of Wednesday, May 17: |
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The number of Iraqi refugees displaced by battles between Islamic State fighters and Iraqi government troops in Mosul has reached 670.000 since encounters broke out in October, the government said Wednesday.
Migration and Displacement Minister Jassem al-Jaff told al-Arabiya TV that 150.000 people have, meanwhile, returned to their home areas, adding that repatriation was still going with a slower pace compared to migration.
Earlier this week, Nineveh council member Hassan al-Allaf said that besides 600.000 civilians the government registered at refugee camps, there are 600.000 more who sought refuge with relatives or settled in rented lodgings.
IS suicide bombers attack Iraqi troops in western Mosul district
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State suicide bombers attacked Iraqi troops on Wednesday with booby-trapped cars at a district in western Mosul where intense encounters continue as the group’s domains shrink.
Rudaw network said the militants attacked the forces with five booby-trapped vehicles at al-Rifaie district, but said no word was given regarding casualties.
On Monday, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command urged Iraqi civilians to avoid using cars or motorbikes for transportation, saying that troops would target those vehicles as IS continues to use them in their attacks against government forces.
More than 30 IS militants killed in two days as troops invade western Mosul districts
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) More than 30 Islamic State militants were killed as Iraqi troops invaded two western Mosul districts, according to the Interior Ministry’s Rapid Response forces.
“Rapid Response troops killed on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning more than 30 IS militants while invading Iqtisadiyeen and 17 Tamuz [July 17th] districts in western Mosul,” Maj. Gen. Thamer al-Husseini told Alghad Press on Wednesday.
“The troops resume their advance after raiding 17 Tamuz and Iqtisadiyeen,” he said adding that the militants attempted hindering the forces depending on booby-trapped vehicles and civilians used as human shields.
“Several houses were booby-trapped. Families were held inside. Thus, we were forced to depend on the individual combat skills,” Husseini added.
“The total number of IS members killed on Wednesday exceeded 25, most of whom were Arabs and foreigners. On Tuesday, four booby-trapped vehicles were seized, while 12 militants were killed on Iqtisadiyeen district,” Husseini added.
More Islamic State militants killed in western Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Twenty Islamic State militants were killed in clashes against the Iraqi troops in western Mosul, a Federal Police officer declared.
“Fierce clashes erupted between Iraqi forces and IS militants in regions of Bab al-Toub, al-Mekkawi and Bab al-Jadid, which left 20 militants killed and others injured,” Lt. Gen. Odai Samir told BasNews on Wednesday.
“The troops confiscated the militants’ weapons,” he said adding that “police troops fully besieged al-Arbeaa and Jadid markets ahead of invading them.”
Iraqi forces recapture western Mosul’s al-Rifaie district, a major IS bastion
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi government forces recaptured on Wednesday al-Rifaie district, a major area held by the Islamic State where intense battles have been running to retake the region.
The Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell said the army’s elite Counter-Terrorism Service took over the district completely and raised the Iraqi flags above its buildings.