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| Iraq |
| Mosul Offensive News |
| 2016-12-29 |
| Iraqi militiaman dies in ISIS attack in Bawiza Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) One army soldier was killed and four others, including two militia fighters, were wounded when Islamic State fighters attacked government forces and popular militias north of Mosul. Zoheir al-Jubouri, spokesperson of the Nineveh Guards militia, said in press statements that a soldier from the army’s 16th division was killed, two other army officers and two from his forces were wounded when militants waged a violent attack on the forces at Bawiza, north of the city. He said air force and artillery backup helped the forces push militants back and destroy vehicles they were planning to use to bring down security barricades. Earlier, Rudaw agency quoted Col. Mohamed al-Wakka, an officer at the media office of government military operations in Nineveh, as saying that Iraqi forces foiled an attack by IS in Baawiza. “A number of IS( militants) were killed during the encounters, and 3-4 booby-trapped vehicles were also destroyed before they were used in the attack.” On the western front, Kataeb Hezbollah, a militia operating as part of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units), rebuffed another attack near the strategic IS stronghold of Tal Afar. The group said a number of militants were either killed or wounded, while several vehicles belonging to the militants were destroyed. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in statements on Tuesday that defeating IS needs three extra months. He had previously hoped the battle would wrap up before the end of 2016. His comments are more optimistic than US coalition commanders who envision victory within two years at least. Iraqi generals have said they now control a quarter of Mosul (or 40 districts out of 56 in the east), but the extremist group still bombs and launches suicide attacks on liberated areas. ISIS remains in control of some areas of the western section, which is adjacent to its strongholds in Syria. But PMU forces say they are ready for liberating ISIS locations in that region, saying the area had been isolated from Syria, depriving the group of supplies from Syria. The battles for Mosul has forced 137.000 people to flee homes to refugee camps, according to the latest count by the Ministry of Migration and Displacement. Sniper downs ISIS kommander's son in Tal Afar Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A state of tension is predominating the western town of Tal Afar, Mosul, after the assassination of the town’s Islamic State-appointed wali (governor), with several armed groups belonging to the group deployed in the streets. A local source told Alsumaria News that Ossama, the son of Abul Alaa al-Atri, was shot dead by a sniper near his residence. He said the incident infuriated the militants who blamed local fighters from the group for the killing. Local sources had said earlier this month that divisions grew among IS fighters as the group’s supreme leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, had excluded Iraqi fighters from commanding the current battles with Iraqi government and popular forces, instead assigning foreign fighters to the lead. In November, Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) declared the recapture of Tal Afar airport from IS, and have been besieging the town since then preparing to storm the town’s center. The town has become isolated from IS strongholds in Syria as well as from Iraq. Iraqi government forces are fighting in eastern Mosul, and have so far liberated 40 out of 56 districts. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday that the battle to retake Mosul could last for three extra months. Nijm al-Jubouri, commander of the army’s operations in Mosul, said in statements on Wednesday that reinforcements have arrived to the city to resume the liberation of eastern Mosul districts, adding that progress have stalled over the past few days pending orders to move on and also due to bad weather conditions. Iraqi forces repel massive ISIS attack in Tel Keppe and al-Hadba Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Commander of Nineveh Operations announced on Wednesday repulsing an attack launched by 100 fighters of the Islamic State in northern Mosul, while emphasized that heavy losses were inflicted on the enemy. Major General Najim al-Jabouri, in a press interview, said, “This morning, 100 fighters of the Islamic State launched an attack on our forces from Tel Keppe and al-Hadba in northern Mosul, backed by five vehicles, including two car bombs, and two armored bulldozers.” “The joint security forces managed to repulse the attack, as well as inflicting heavy human and material losses on the Islamic State,” Jabouri added. “Fighter jets and smart artillery of the international coalition were also used to repulse the attack,” Jabouri explained. “The Islamic State tried to take advantage of the bad weather to attack the forces,” he further added. The province of Nineveh witnessed wide-scale military operations since October 17, to retake the city of Mosul that was captured by the Islamic state in June 2014. Baghdadi's assistant captured in Mosul Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A security source in Nineveh Province revealed on Wednesday, that security forces managed to arrest the assistant of the Islamic State’s Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in the eastern side of Mosul, Almada Press reported on Thursday. The source said, “Yesterday, security forces managed to arrest the terrorist Abu Harith al-Matuiti, the assistant of the Islamic State’s Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, in Hayy al-Bakr areas in the eastern side of Mosul, based on accurate intelligence information.” “The terrorist was arrested after besieging the house of al-Matuiti,” the source added on condition of anonymity. “We Are Coming, Nineveh” operations were launched in October 17, and succeeded to liberate several areas of the province, and the majority of the eastern side of Mosul. 60 ISIS Bad Guys die in attack on Iraqi forces in Mosul Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) The army’s 16th brigade announced on Wednesday, that the Islamic State group launched an attack north of Mosul, while security forces repulsed the attack and destroyed five vehicles. Army official, Major General Ali al-Farigi, in a press statement, said, “Troops of the army’s 16th brigade managed to repulse a violent attack launched by the Islamic State on the area of Bawizah, north of Mosul, killing 60 IS militants.” “The security forces destroyed five vehicles driven by suicide bombers, after repulsing the attack,” Farigi added. “We Are Coming, Nineveh” operations were launched in October 17, and succeeded to liberate several areas of the province, and the majority of the eastern side of Mosul. Airstrikes on Mosul destroys bridge BAGHDAD: Residents of Iraq’s Daesh-held city of Mosul said on Wednesday that an airstrike disabled the city’s last functioning bridge across the Tigris River, forcing residents to cross the river in boats and further disrupting the Daesh group’s movement. The residents, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity fearing for their safety, said the airstrike happened at dawn on Monday. Iraqi and US-led international coalition officials were not available to comment. Activists from inside Mosul published pictures Tuesday night of the metal bridge, known as the Old Bridge, showing its twisted girders sinking into the water as boats were seen ferrying the residents from both banks. The bridge, which was built during the reign of King Ghazi in the 1930s, is considered one of the city’s iconic landmarks. The northern city of Mosul had five bridges spanning the Tigris River, which runs through the center of the city. Four of them have now been bombed in airstrikes since the massive government military operation began on Oct. 17, while one was disabled weeks before the operation began. The Tigris River runs through the center of Mosul, and until now most of the fighting has been on the eastern bank. Iraqi forces are expected to use pontoon bridges when they reach the river as they have done in previous military operations in other areas. Fighting on all fronts, but centered mainly on Mosul’s eastern edge, has slowed recently as suicide car bombings, snipers and concern over the safety of civilians have hampered the Iraqi troops’ advance toward the city center. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi had earlier said Daesh had launched more than 900 car bombs against Iraqi troops so far during the Mosul operations, but didn’t give details on how many were driven by suicide bombers or were blown up before reaching their targets. The offensive “is continuing ... God willing, there will be good news in the coming days,” Al-Abadi added. Mosul, about 360 km northwest of Baghdad, is Iraq’s second-largest city and the last major Daesh urban bastion of their self-styled caliphate in the country. It fell into the hands of Daesh militants during their June 2014 onslaught that left the group in control of large swaths of northern and western Iraq. |
| Posted by:badanov |