Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces managed to liberate three new villages in Qairawan, in the framework of the current operation to liberate the Iraqi city of Mousl from the grip of ISIS extremist group, as they also managed to besiege the extremist elements in a number of districts of the city.
According to a statement, the first brigade was able to liberate the village of Tal Bashuk, north of Kairouan, by a sudden military operation. It added that Kairouan district is considered one of the most important centers of ISIS extremist group and is an important point linking between Tal Afar and Al-A'aj and the Syrian border to the west.
The paramilitary troops have freed three villages in Qairawan region, near Mosul, on the fifth day of an offensive launched to drive Islamic State out of the region.
A statement by al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said that the first brigade troops liberated Tal Bashuk village in the north of Qairawan. Battles between the troops against the Islamic State fighters left several militants killed and their vehicles burnt.
Another statement said that the 13th brigade troops freed Tal al-Dala’, in the south of Qairawan, while the 41st brigade liberated Thara al-Karrah village. “The troops evacuated tens of families toward the recently liberated Tal al-Sultan village, in the south of the region,” the media service said.
“All essential needs were offered to the displaced families before being evacuated to outside of the battlefields,” it added. Many villages in Qairawan region, a main Islamic State bastion which links between Tal Afar town and the Syrian borders, have been freed since an the troops launched an offensive on Friday to free the region.
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. Iraqi commanders predict recapturing the remaining parts of the city this month.
In the same context, Iraqi government forces began Tuesday invading the last district leading to the Islamic State-held Old City from the northwest as commanders reassure of near victory.
Cap. Kadhim Hassan, from the Interior Ministry’s Rapid Response forces, told BasNews that troops invaded al-Najjar district, and managed to destroy ten booby-trapped cars belonging to the Islamic State at that district.
His announcement came shortly after Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesperson of the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, said Iraqi troops became in control over 89.5 percent of territory at western Mosul, having killed more than 16000 militants since the launch of Mosul operations in October.
Iraqi government forces are eyeing the ancient, densely structured and populated Old City, the place where Islamic State’s supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the establishment of an “Islamic Caliphate” in 2014. Troops besieged the area for weeks from the south, but turned to the northwestern axis to invade the city earlier this month. IS fighters are believed to have been holding hundreds of thousands at that area as human shields.
Captain Ali al-Daraji, from the army’s Counter-Terrorism Service, told Shafaaq News earlier on Tuesday troops had isolated the 17 Tamuz (July 17th), from al-Refaie and al-Najjar districts from each other, encircling militants in the alleys and streets of each.
Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, CTS commander, said the situation makes the Old City the only refuge left for militants.
“The enemy is on the brink of total defeat in Mosul,” U.S. Air Force Colonel John Dorrian, a spokesperson of the U.S.-led coalition backing Iraqi troops, told a news conference in Baghdad on Tuesday, adding that the coalition had destroyed 200 underground tunnels and 300 vehicles belonging to the militants.
On the other hand, The Joint Operations Command has declared controlling 89.5 percent of western Mosul and killing 16,467 members of Islamic State. During a press conference on Tuesday, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said “the total deaths of IS have reached up to 16,467 militants until yesterday.”
“100 percent of the area of eastern Mosul is under control of the troops,” Rasool said adding that life returned back to normal. 679 booby-trapping vehicles, 11 headquarters of the group, 47 drones and 76 booby-trapping workshops were destroyed while 6,661 bombs and 217 explosive belts were defused, according to Rasool.
“89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated. Only few districts are remaining under the militants control,” he said adding that the paramilitary troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi “made extreme advance toward Qairawan and Baaj regions.” Meanwhile, Iraqi troops have isolated the main battlefields, besieging the IS militants is some districts.
Captain Ali al-Daraji, of the army’s Counter-Terrorism Service, told Shafaq News that the Iraqi forces imposed its full control on Tamuz roundabout and Hafsa bint Omar mosque, in the northwest of Mosul. The troops now isolate 17 Tamuz district from districts of al-Refaie and al-Najjar, besieging the militants in the alleys and streets of the district.
In related news, Lieutenant-General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi, CTS commander, said the coming few days will witness the full liberation of Mosul to be declared as an IS-free city. He added that once Islah al-Zeraie district was liberated, CTS troops were able to free al-Ureibi district, which enabled blocking the communication between the militants there and the rest in 17 Tamuz and al-Iqtisadiyeen districts, forcing them to head toward the Old City, which will be there last stronghold.