Iraqi forces advance towards center of Mosul

Iraqi aircraft continued, on Friday, its shelling of ISIS's gatherings on the western side of Mosul. The Defense Ministry said, in a statement released late Thursday, the Iraqi army jets destroyed several targets for ISIS organization, by directing a successful air strikes targeted elements of the organization in western Mosul, stressing that the shelling, which targeted ISIS's sites Tel Hajim  village, resulted in massive material damage.

A source in the leadership of the joint Iraqi operations, said, on Friday, that the progress of the Iraqi forces toward the center of Mosul, appeared more cautious during the past few hours, because there are a large number of mines and ambushes planted by ISIS elements in the vicinity of some areas, stressing that the liberation of neighborhoods located in the heart of the right side of Mosul may require more time than its predecessors.

An officer in the Nineveh operations command said that security leaders held a meeting to discuss the new plans and ways to progress towards the city center. He added that the forces are currently fighting in four areas of the south side of Mosul Center, while the new plan included the opening of three other axes on both sides of the north and northwest as well as another southern axis.

Meanwhile, violent clashed took place between the Iraqi forces and ISIS organization, lasted for about five hours, during which Iraqi forces, in cooperation with international coalition aircraft, destroyed cars bomb before reaching to its targets, and forced the attackers to retreat to their sites after the forces killed a number of them.

In addition, five Iraqi soldiers were killed, and many other injured as well as material damage in the ranks of the Iraqi forces after the clashes with ISIS's elements.

A local source in Nineveh informed that more than 20 checkpoints belonging to ISIS, west of Mosul, disappeared in few hours.

The source said, “More than 20 checkpoints belonging to the Islamic State in the areas of al-Zera’i and Bab al-Taub, west of Mosul, disappeared along with their members in few hours.”

“The disappearance of the checkpoints reflects the internal collapse of the extremist group, that started to appear obviously with the start of the battle to liberate western Mosul,” the source added on condition of anonymity.

The battle to liberate western Mosul was launched in 19 February 2017, after the announcement of Prime Minister and General Commander of Armed Forces Haider al-Abadi.

On the other hand, member of Mousl’s local council Zohair Al Jabouri said that they decided to exempt the local officials who worked under ISIS in the city’s left bank. He added, in a press statement, that the council appointed 48 officials of 186 will be changed during the coming period.