16 ISIS Turbans detained i southern Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Security troops heightened measures at the liberated regions and searched for Islamic State militants, in south of Mosul, a source from Nineveh police said.
“Security forces imposed tight measures in Qayyarah and Hamam al-Alil towns and arrested 16 IS members,” Captain Jasem Mohamed told BasNews.
“Several others, who were hiding among displaced families at Hamam al-Alil camps, were arrested over doubts of involvement with IS,” he added.
Interior Ministry’s Rapid Response forces declared recapturing 30 percent of western Mosul’s Old City.
Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S-led coalition and paramilitary troops, launched an offensive in October 2016 to recapture Mosul, the group’s largest stronghold in Iraq.
The eastern side of the city was recaptured in January. A new offensive was launched in February to retake the western side. Battles in the west are believed to be much more difficult due to the density of residential areas and the high number of civilians.
Retaking Mosul could be symbolic blow to the extremist group’s self-styled “Islamic Caliphate” declared in 2014 when the group occupied several parts of the country.
Iraqi shelling yields civilian, ISIS casualties in western Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) A civilian was killed, others were wounded due to shelling by Iraqi troops as well as the Islamic State at several districts in Mosul.
“One person was killed, four others were injured on the liberated district of al-Jazair in western Mosul as a mortar missile was shot from regions still held by IS in the west of the city,” a security source told Shafaq News on Wednesday.
Another bombing occurred at the same place leaving three persons wounded, the source added.
In related news, residents said six civilians were wounded due to artillery and mortar shelling by Iraqi troops against Hawi al-Kanisah region, still held by IS, in the west.
Meanwhile, Federal Police announced killing of top aide of IS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in western Mosul.
Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, commander of the Federal Police service, said in a statement that “troops killed the top aide of IS leader called ‘Abu Abd al-Rahman’ in shelling that targeted al-Zanjili district.”
“The troops also killed abul Walid al-Tounsi and four of his companions as their headquarters near Al-Aswad mosque in the Old City,” Jawdat said. “Another Russian national member called Abu Maria al-Roumi was killed in Ras al-Jadda neighborhood.”
IS members raised alert earlier this week as Hassab-Allah al-Qawqazi was killed by unknown gunmen near his home in central Tal Afar.
Iraqi airstrike turns ISIS spook into a fine, red mist
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) An Islamic State intelligence official died Wednesday when U.S.-led coalition airstrikes targeted him in western Mosul, according to the Iraqi Directorate of General Military Intelligence.
The directorate said it had received information that Ahmed Khaled Najm, aka Abu Obaida, was killed in an airstrike while moving on a motorbike at al-Zanjili district.
It said Abu Obaida was Islamic State’s area intelligence official for al-Tayaran district.
Iraqi forces recaptured the eastern side of Mosul in January after three months of fighting with IS, and sat on a new offensive in February to retake the western region. Commanders said earlier this month that the Islamic State was controlling only less than seven percent of Iraqi territory, and that only six districts remained to declare western Mosul free from militants.
IS has lost many of its senior commanders since operations launched to retake the western side of Mosul.
Iraqi police commanders said earlier on Wednesday they recaptured 30 percent of western Mosul’s Old City, a strategic IS bastion which is viewed as vital for realizing final victory over the extremist group.
Security forces drive back ISIS attack in central Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) A Federal Police Officer announced, on Wednesday, foiling a massive attack launched by the Islamic State group on central Mosul.
Major Ali Mohsen said in a press statement that security forces managed to foil an attack launched by the Islamic State group on al-Farouq area, in central Mosul.
The terrorist group attacked the area using three booby-trapped vehicles and a bulldozer, Mohsen added.
Furthermore, Mohsen pointed out that the Islamic State also fired a mortar shell on al-Jazair area, east of Mosul, killing a civilian and wounding three others.