ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A commander from the Iraqi army’s counter-terrorism forces (ICTF) says that his troops have crossed Mosul’s Khosar River and taken control of Muthana district in the second phase of their offensive to free the city from ISIS. “The counter-terrorism forces have crossed Khosar River, and we have now retaken complete control of Musana neighborhood. Large numbers of terrorists have been killed,” Abduwahab al-Saadi, commander of the 3rd Counter-terrorism Division told Rudaw. “Peace and security have now been restored to its residents.” He added: “The operation will hopefully continue until other neighborhoods are liberated.” The Iraqi commander also said that the operation to retake the left side of the city is at its last phases. “There is little territory left to be liberated,” he maintained. “We are now in Musana district. The operation is heading north. The war on the left side of the city is hopefully in its last days.” Iraqi troops are pushing further into Mosul following a short pause for the forces to rest and regroup, aiming to reach River Tigris in the next few hours. The Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces launched the military offensive in October last year to free Mosul and other ISIS-held territories northwest of the country.
