Iraqi troops resume advance in Mousl cautiously

A leading member of ISIS extremist group was killed, as he was shot by unidentified people near Sherqat district of Mousl’s left bank. Meanwhile the International Coalition launched air raids on the strongholds of the extremist group in the city’s right bank, leading to the killing of a number of its prominent leaders.

Security troops were able to liberate strategic areas in western Mosul, a source from Federal Police said on Monday. “Security forces launched fierce battles against the Islamic State fighters in western Mosul,” Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat, Commander of Federal Police service, told Bas News. “The clashes left 40 fighters, including snipers and suicide bombers, killed so far.”

Security services were able to free several regions including al-Nahrawan and western Yarmouk following fierce clashes with the IS militants, he added. “Battles are still ongoing at al-Matahen and al-Aghawat.”

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. The government troops have recently pushed deeper into the Old City, a densely-populated and -structured area which military officials view as central to the desired victory over IS militants

Battles in the west are believed to be much more difficult due to the density of residential areas and the high number of civilians. Retaking Mosul could ruin the Islamic State’s self-styled “Islamic Caliphate” declared in 2014 when the group occupied several parts of the country.

Iraqi Federal Police announced, on Monday, opening safe havens to completely evacuate civilians from the old city of Mosul, before launching extensive military operations.

Federal Police Chief, Raed Shaker Jawdat, said in a press statement that security forces continue their ground military operations, backed by the artillery, to attack the Islamic State headquarters and fixed/ mobile defenses, as well as approaching the great mosque of al-Nuri from three main axes.

Furthermore, Federal Police forces are opening safe havens to evacuate all civilians from the old city of Mosul, before starting extensive military operations, Jawdat added.

Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces are going through fierce battles to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State terrorist group, after the announcement of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to start an offensive, in 19 February 2017, to retake the western side of the city.

On the political side, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Abadi said that he has not taken any decision whether to run for a second term or not, saying that he took unpopular decisions to protect the country from a large number of dangers. He added that the Americans work to benefit from the Iraqi capabilities in the battles witnessed in the cities

He called the international community to change its approach in Syria, saying that if the world wants to resolve the Syrian crisis, it should turn to dialogue with the Syrian regime and to suspend the current conflict. He added that there is no justification for the current wars in Yemen, and Syria.

He praised the visit conducted by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir to Baghdad, saying that it came during critical time. He said that relations with Saudi Arabia are still in the first phase, saying that they aspire to normalize the relations with Saudi Arabia on different levels