ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi aircraft dropped millions of leaflets on the Islamic State (ISIS) main stronghold of Mosul, informing the city's residents of the Iraqi army's recent victories against the militant group in Fallujah. The Iraqi Interior Ministry's war announcement office issued a statement on Thursday confirming it had dropped millions of leaflets detailing its achievements against ISIS in Fallujah and recent ongoing military operations in Nineveh province. According to the announcement, the leaflets promised residents of the city and its suburbs that the liberation of Mosul would begin once military operations in the city's surroundings have finished. This is not the first time the Iraqi air force dropped leaflets over Mosul. It previously warned residents to avoid ISIS positions and promised to liberate the city from the extremist group. Iraqi forces completed the liberation of Fallujah late last month when they recaptured the last neighborhood occupied by the militants, al-Julan, ending a month-long campaign in the city. The Iraqi army also launched military operations to retake Gayara and Shargat, two strategic towns in southern Mosul, on June 18. By capturing Gayara and neighboring Shargat, the Iraqi army will edge closer to Mosul, ISIS’ main stronghold in Iraq. Gayara is a large town on the Tigris River, 80 kilometers south of Mosul.
