US airstrike smokes 14 ISIS Bad Guys in western Mosul
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi fighter jets pounded Islamic State locations in western Mosul on Wednesday, killing 14 militants and destroying the group’s vigilantism office, according to a statement from the Defense Ministry media.
The War Media Cell said 14 militants were killed while two booby-traps were destroyed when Iraqi fighter jets bombarded Ras Sinjar and 17 Tamuz (July 17th) regions in western Mosul. It added that six booby-trapped vehicles belonging to the extremist group were destroyed.
17 Tamuz (July 17th) district in western Mosul (google maps)
Other strikes destroyed the group’s so-called “Islamic police” office in al-Baaj area, also west of Mosul, according to the statement. Islamic police was IS’s vigilantes service which observed civilians’ commitment to its extreme religious rules.
Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January after three months of fighting, and launched an offensive in February to recapture the western region.Iraqi troops are currently working to retake central Mosul districts from IS militants, specifically eyeing the city’s grand mosque where the group’s self-styled “Caliphate” was declared in 2014.
Earlier this week, the Iraqi air force said strikes it had carried out since the start of Mosul operations in October killed 2200 Islamic State members.
Iraqi field commanders were quoted earlier this week saying that bad weather, coupled with the narrowly-structured residential areas of western Mosul, had forced troops to halt ground incursions at some stages and to rely instead on air assaults and artillery bombardments to avoid fires and suicide attacks by Islamic State snipers and attackers who, Iraqi commanders say, use civilians as human shields.
Google Map at the link
40 ISIS troops die in fighting in northwestern Mosul
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army forces took over an Islamic State command center in northwestern Mosul on Wednesday, killing 40 fighters in the process as operations continue to clear the west of the city from militants.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that armored divisions took over the group’s command center in Badush, an area north of the western side of Mosul and near the Tigris River, killing more than 40 members of several nationalities, including a senior leader nicknamed “Abu Adul-Rahman”, according to the ministry’s statement.
Badush town, northwest of Mosul (Google Maps)
The forces seized locally-made rockets, communication sets and a network of underground tunnels at the area, the statement added.
The development put Iraqi forces in full control over Badush as well as over the western bank of the Tigris River, which bisects Mosul, according to the statement.
Iraqi government forces and allied paramilitary forces have been recapturing several areas around Badush since operations launched mid February to retake western Mosul. The troops recaptured eastern Mosul in January after three months of fighting, and launched an offensive in February to recapture the western region.Iraqi troops are currently working to retake central Mosul districts from IS militants, specifically eyeing the city’s grand mosque where the group’s self-styled “Caliphate” was declared in 2014.
Google Map at the link
2 civilians wounded by mortar fire as Iraqi forces advances in western Mosul
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) lraqi forces advanced towards more districts in western Mosul on Wednesday as operations against Islamic State militants proceed to retake the region.
The army’s Counter-Terrorism Forces command said its troops moved towards the Shuqaq al-Yarmouk (apartment buildings) and Yabessat districts in western Mosul, having recaptured nearby districts of Shuqaq Nablus and al-Resala on Tuesday.
Yarmouk district, western Mosul (google maps).
Meanwhile, Ikhnews quoted a security source in Nineveh saying two civilians were wounded by mortars fired from IS militants at Ghizlani, south of Mosul’s western side. The source said the pair was going to Nabi Shiit district, which was recaptured weeks ago by security forces, to pull out the bodies of relatives buried under debris.
Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January and launched an offensive in February to recapture the western region.Iraqi troops are currently working to retake central Mosul districts from IS militants, specifically eyeing the city’s grand mosque where the group’s self-styled “Caliphate” was declared in 2014.
Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition generals have admitted that battles in western Mosul were much more difficult due to the region’s high population and the complex structure of its residential areas.
Iraqi government data reveal that at least 355.000 civilians have been displaced since operations began in October.
Google Map at the link
15 ISIS troops die in southern Mosul fighting
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A Federal Police Officer announced on Wednesday, that security forces killed 15 members of the self-proclaimed Islamic State, and arrested several sleeper cells belonging to the group in central Mosul.
Captain Khalil Haider said in a press statement that Iraqi security forces killed 15 members of the Islamic State group, as well as arresting sleeper cells belonging to the terrorist group, including four women, in central the city of Mosul.
Meanwhile, army forces also managed to kill an IS suicide bomber, before blowing himself up near the great mosque in Mosul, Haider added.
Iraqi forces capture 2 villages near Badush
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) We Are Coming Nineveh Operations Command announced on Wednesday liberating the villages of Al Yassin and Arhila, north of Badush, and raising Iraqi flag over their buildings.
Commander of Operations, Abdel Amir Yarallah, said in a press statement that troops of the army’s 9th armored brigade liberated the villages of Al Yassin and Arhila, north of Badush, and also liberated the Iraqi flag over their buildings.
The security forces inflicted heavy human and material losses on the enemy, Yarallah further added.
Nineveh Province is witnessing extensive military operations, after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced launching an offensive to liberate the western side of the city of Mosul, in addition to capturing the last stronghold of the Islamic State in the city.