40 civilians killed during air raid on a building in Mousl

Over 40 civilians have been killed during an air strike against a building in which ISIS extremist group imprisoned them in Mousl. Meanwhile, Iraqi Intelligence Directorate revealed that the Iraqi air forces managed to destroy a number of sites controlled by the extremists, including two leaders in Telaffar.

According to local sources, the victims of the bombarded house were attempting to escape from the areas controlled by ISIS to the other areas under control of Iraqi governmental troops, while the extremist militants prevented them and imprisoned them inside the building.

Forty civilians were killed in air strikes near Badosh, northwestern of Mosul. Since February 19, the Iraqi army supported by the International Coalition airstrikes, has launched an offensive to oust ISIS from the right bank of Mosul, the terror group's last stronghold in Iraq. 

On March 17th an airstrike killed more than 300 in Mosul Jadedeh neighborhood. 

The Pentagon announced it would probe the matter. The US Central Command announced the strikes were carried out at the request of the Iraqi security apparatus. Intelligence sources confirmed the Iraqi army and police forces had been infiltrated by Iranian spies who always give misleading information to the coalition forces. 

On his hand, Spokesperson of Iraq’s Interior Ministry Saad Moen said that the security forces managed to arrest a gang composed of three persons, saying that they stole a number of shops at Zahraa district of Mousl’s left bank. He added that the Iraqi forces managed to achieve victory against the extremists in the right bank, as they managed to control large swaths of areas in the city during the recent period.

According to security sources, a curfew has been imposed in Tikrit, Salahuddin Governorate. The sources said the curfew would take effect as of 6:00 pm till a further notice over a series of bombings and violent clashes in the city.

All entrances and exits of the city have been closed, police said.  On Tuesday evening, a string of explosive belts bombings hit Tikrit, followed by violent clashes between the joint forces and ISIS terrorists who claimed the bombings. 

Death toll from the bombings and clashes jumped to 35 while 40 were injured. Most of the victims belong to the Joint forces. Police sources confirmed to The Baghdad Post that the Joint Forces in Tikrit had called for further reinforcements. Salahuddin governor Ahmed Jabouri announced all governmental facilities were closed over security concerns. 

On the political side, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi hosted a delegation from Kurdistan region on Wednesday. According to a statement, the Iraqi prime minister stressed the need for resuming dialogue between the different parties during the coming period to ensure the territorial integrity of the country and to support the peaceful coexistence among the different components of the Iraqi community.

He added that the different parties should give priority to the current fight against extremism to eliminate extremist ISIS group as soon as possible. He added that the different parties should commit to dialogue.