Iraqi Forces Closes in on Complete Mosul Victory as ISIS Clings on to Last Three Districts

Reports said an intensified counter-insurgency efforts by Iraqi security forces continue to achieve goals in the ongoing campaign to liberate the Northern city of Mosul as the Iraqi forces retook three more ISIL-held neighborhoods.
Amid the last stage of the Mosul battle, the Iraqi Army was able to wrestle control of the Iqtisadiyeen district, Al-Rabi’ district and highly fortified ’17th Tammuz’ district, the latter holds symbolic significance for the caliphate as it was the first large suburb to fall into ISIL hand in 2014, Al Masdar reported.

The ISIL now effectively controls merely three districts in Mosul city, namely the Al-Shafaa, Al-Zinjiji, and Old City neighborhoods. These ISIL-held areas are centered along three bridges on the Western bank of the Tigris River.

The Old City district is nevertheless the most densely populated neighborhood across Mosul and houses the Al-Nouri mosque where ISIL leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate in 2014. Unfortunately for government troops, it is also composed of small buildings and narrow streets that favor ISIL-style guerrila warfare.

A few isolated sniper nests are still scattered elsewhere while Iraqi sappers constantly endanger themselves by having to deal with booby traps and mines in liberated residential areas.

With the seasoned 9th Division and 15th Division of the Iraqi Army already departed for duties elsewhere, the final mopping-up operations in Mosul are left to the Rapid Response Division and Iraqi Federal Police to deal with.

On Saturday afternoon, the Counter Terrorism Units notably announced they had finished their operations in Mosul and would be transferred to other fronts upon demand of Baghdad.

Around 500 ISIL insurgents are still fighting in Mosul while hundreds more sleeper cells are said to be active in government-held areas.


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