Iraqi forces travel in military vehicles across western Mosul. (Photo: Reuters)


Iraqi forces make ‘motivating’ gains in eastern Mosul: Commander



7/3/2017 5 hours ago 0 comments




MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi security forces on Tuesday made more ground against the Islamic State (IS) in Mosul retaking several public buildings, officials said.

During heavy clashes with IS insurgents, Iraqi forces reclaimed important buildings as well as the Hurriya Bridge, which crosses the Tigres River in central Mosul.

Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, a military spokesman for the Iraqi security forces, said his troops wouldn’t stop their offensive until Mosul was “entirely liberated.”

Moreover, Lieutenant General Raed Shakir Jawdat, the chief of federal police, revealed Iraqi forces had retaken a branch of the central bank, Mosul’s archaeological museum, and a government compound.

According to Iraqi General Abdul Amir al-Muhammadawi, IS insurgents used a courthouse in the government compound to carry out “sentences including whippings, stonings, and beheadings.”

“The liberation of the government compound is a step forward for our forces, a vital motivating position for us,” the General explained.

“The international coalition’s air strikes and drones have played a major role in accelerating the liberation of the city,” Muhammadawi added.

Although troops were forced to retreat after heavy fire from IS insurgents, military commanders remained optimistic of their recent gains in eastern Mosul.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi accompanied with the chief of staff of the country’s armed forces visited eastern Mosul on Tuesday.

According to an official statement from the PM’s office, the visit was a “review [of] the progress of security forces.”

In June 2014, IS militants besieged Mosul in addition to large swaths of territory across Iraq.

On Oct. 17, 2016, Iraqi and Peshmerga forces launched an operation to free the city from IS’ control.

Since then, the western part of the city has been liberated, and operations on the eastern side are ongoing.

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