Iraqi troops ordered to avoid heavy weapons in Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops have been directed to avoid using heavy weaponry in battles with Islamic State militants in western Mosul as dozens of civilian casualties had sparked an international uproar.
The Joint Operations Command had received directives from the Armed Forces leadership to not to use heavy weapons and smart guns in operations to recapture the remaining parts of western Mosul, DPA quoted a senior Iraqi officer saying.
Mohamed al-Jubouri, a brigadier-general from the JOC, said the command forwarded the instructions to troops on field, including the Federal Police and the Rapid Response forces, urging to avoid using heavy weapons in bombarding IS havens so as to prevent more civilian casualties.
He said that while IS continue to use civilians as human shields, large numbers of militants flee battlefronts to outside Mosul.
The Pentagon has recently said it was going to investigate reports saying that at least 240 civilians died when fighter jets from the U.S.-led international coalition bombarded IS locations in a western Mosul district on March 17th. Its officials, however, said it was difficult to avoid civilian deaths and stressed that combat strategies were not going to be changed.
The JOC, which has been leading battles against IS in Mosul since October, has said it found no evidence that civilians died due to airstrikes, and accused IS of fabricating such allegations to defame the security campaign and detonating civilians’ homes to push back security troops.
Iraqi troops continue advance in Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Commander of the Counter-Terrorism 2nd Operations Brigade announced on Thursday, that security forces continue to advance against the Islamic State militants in the terrorist group-held areas in Mosul.
Major General Moen al-Saadi said in a press statement that security forces are advancing significantly against the Islamic State terrorist group.
Forces from Iraqi Army and police managed to impose their control on important and strategic areas in the western and southern axes of Mosul, including Silo plants, Health Control Directorate, and some service departments, Saadi 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.
Iraq is witnessing an extraordinary security situation, where ongoing military operations take place to drive out the Islamic State, while the US-led international coalition intensifies its air strikes on the group’s headquarters.
Iraqi troops capture Qadib al-Ban neighborhood in western Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Commander of We Are Coming, Nineveh Operations Command, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, has declared liberating Qadib al-Ban district, located west of Mosul, Shafaq News reported.
Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces, according to Yarallah, freed the district from IS and raised the Iraqi flag above the buildings.
Iraqi troops are now making their way toward al-Zangeli neighborhood.
Mosul is the Islamic State’s strongest stronghold in Iraq. Eastern Mosul was recaptured from IS in January, after a US-backed offensive was launched in October. A new offensive started in February to retake the west.
Battles in the west are believed to be much more difficult due to the density of residential areas and the high number of civilians who the commanders believe are used as human shields by IS members.
IS lost control on most of the cities it captured in northern and western Iraq in 2014 and 2015.
Iraqi troops closing on al-Hadba Minaret in central Mosul
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Federal Police Chief, Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat announced on Thursday, that security forces advanced toward al-Hadba Minaret, in central the city of Mosul.
Jawdat said in a press statement that troops of the Federal Police continued their advance toward al-Hadba Minaret, after recapturing Qadib al-Ban, in western Mosul.
The Federal Police troops also continue raiding IS-held areas, backed by snipers and drones, in the vicinity of the Great Mosque of Nuri, as well as opening safe havens for civilians to leave the city, Jawdat added.
Earlier today, Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces freed Qadib al-Ban district, in western Mosul, from the Islamic State and raised the Iraqi flag above the buildings.