Iraqi forces advance to Nineveh governorate building

Iraqi air forces launched a number of combat missions to support the militants of Popular Mobilization Forces in the western side of Mousl, as the Federal Police forces advanced towards the building of Nineveh governorate to liberate it from the grip of ISIS. The military actions coincided with statements issued by an American General praising the Iraqi commitment to the military plan aiming to restore control in the Iraqi second largest city.

U.S military leader in Iraq Rick Uribe said that the Iraqi troops resume their advance according to the time table and the plans drafted to liberate Mousl during the coming period. He stressed that they managed to liberate the city’s left bank in record time, while they resume their advance in the right bank.

He added that the matter will be more difficult during the coming period, as the Iraqi troops currently advance towards the city’s high populated areas, stressing the need for protecting the civilians existed in the battle areas. He warned that ISIS still controls Telaffar, saying that the extremist group still has a large number of militants inside the district and they can defend it.

On his hand, Iraqi military leader Yahia Rasool said that the Iraqi forces will surprise the extremist militants during the coming period, stressing that the Iraqi security forces will resume their advance after controlling vital areas in the center of the Iraqi city.

In the same context, Iraqi Ministry of Defense revealed that the military air forces executed a large number of combat missions to support the Popular Mobilization Forces, saying that they managed to kill over 15 extremists, including one of the militants’ leaders. It added that they destroyed a number of bombing wheels, cars and weapons stores.

According to security sources, Iraqi jets bombarded a headquarters of ISIS in the housing buildings of Mousl’s right bank, saying that the attack led to the killing of 18 extremists. It added that the extremist militias withdrew dozens of its militants from Kirkuk.

leader of Iraq’s Federal Police Shaker Jawdat said that his forces managed to control a police station in Akedat district, saying that they targeted a number of other districts in the city’s right bank controlled by the extremist group. He added that they managed to kill 16 fighters loyal to ISIS and destroyed over 9 bombing wheels in addition to eight mortar detachments.

He added that the extremist group lost its combat capabilities due to the withdrawal of the most of its militants, saying that they turn to demolish the buildings to dig tunnels to prevent the advance of the Iraqi troops to their strongholds in the city. He added that the federal police transferred over 300 displaced family from Jawsaq district to the camps of Hamam Al Alil.