Iraqi governmental troops resumed their advance in the right bank of Iraqi city of Mousl, as they targeted the sties controlled by the extremist militants and restored control on Seha district of the city from the grip of the extremist group. Meanwhile, Popular Mobilization Forces managed to liberate a number of villages in the surrounding area of Kairwan city in the western side of Nineveh Province.
Islamic State militant in charge of the administrative affairs of Nineveh province in Iraq and the Syrian city of Raqqa has been declared to be killed in western Mosul. In a statement on Sunday, the military intelligence department confirmed the death of IS leader called Mohamed Mejbal al-Jawari, who was recently appointed as head of the administrative affairs in Nineveh and Raqqa in an airstrike at al-Zanjili district, in western Mosul.
Iraqi forces have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past few weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City, after finding it hard to invade from the south. More than 16,000 IS members were killed since beginning of operations in Mosul, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said last week. 89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated with only a few districts remaining under the militants’ control.
On Saturday, Federal Police said more than 100 Islamic State snipers were killed since start of military operations in western Mosul in February. Eastern Mosul was liberated in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side. Iraqi generals has predicted liberating the city before end of this month.
In the same context, Iraqi Federal Police forces are working on a combat plan for the invasion of the Islamic State-held Old City as operations reach the final stage to retake the city. Deputy Federal Police commander, Maj. Gen. Jaafar al-Battat, was quoted Sunday saying in statements the density of the civilian population in the area had obliged the delay of the invasion until districts overlooking it from the northwest are retaken.
Only four districts are left under Islamic State militants’ control in western Mosul : the Old City: Zanjili, al-Shifaa and al-Sihha, according to Battat, who added that the Old City has recently seen an increase in militants numbers as many sought refuge there after Iraqi forces had retaken areas to the northwest, most notably the 17 Tamuz and Iktisadiyeen districts.
Iraqi troops recaptured eastern Mosul in January after three months of fighting, and the Iraqi security command said earlier this week it controls 89.5 percent of the western side of the city, three months after a second phase of the campaign launched to recapture that region. The densely populated and structured Old City is the place where IS supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the establishment of the group’s rule in Iraq and Syria.
The paramilitary troops have found on Sunday a prison of the Islamic State in south of Qairawan region, west of Mosul. In a statement, al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) media service said “the 11th brigade found the IS prison, which is located in the village of al-Qahira, located south of Qairawan.” The photos, documented by the War Media Cell, showed the prison composed of small rooms. Several tools used for torturing civilians were found.
PMUs liberated earlier on Sunday several villages in Qairawan region and blocked an Islamic State supply route. Many villages in Qairawan region, a main Islamic State bastion which links between Tal Afar town and the Syrian borders, have been freed since the troops launched an offensive on May 12 to free the region. Last week the troops announced liberated of Sahl Sinjar airbase, located south of Qairawan, in addition to cutting off a main supply route between the freed Tal Banat village and Qairawan. The eastern side of Mosul was recaptured in January following three months of battles. Another offensive was launched in February to recapture the western flank of the city.
On the political side, Iraqi politician Haidar Al Mola praised the agreements concluded between Saudi Arabia and the United States, saying that the U.S will perform a major role to contain the Iranian influence in the Middle East and to eliminate ISIS extremist group.