AL ZAHRA, Mosul--The Iraqi Counter-Terrorism forces (ICTF) faced strong resistance put up by the Islamic State group as they made their way into Mosul's eastern neighborhoods, Rudaw’s Ranja Jamal who is embedded with the Iraqi forces, reported from Al Zahra neighborhood on Friday.
The extremist group which is still in control of most of the city, in particular the right bank of the Tigris river, have used sniper fire and car bombs to stop the advance of the counter-terrorism special forces who have pushed into the city from the east, Iraqi commanders told Rudaw.
The Iraqi War Media Office reported on Friday that Iraqi forces on all fronts are clearing the areas that came under their control in the last few days, but indications on the ground point to continued clashes in almost all neighborhoods, including Al Zahra.
Jamal reported Friday afternoon that the elite ICTF are making an attempt to enter Qadisiya neighborhood where they are engaged in street-to-street fighting with the ISIS militants.
The Iraqi government has urged the Mosul residents to stay in their homes, as a result many are caught between the two sides.
Some residents in the newly liberated Intisar neighborhood interviewed by Rudaw on Friday complained of the lack of fuel and flour while lined up to receive some food items distributed by Iraqi forces.
Others from the same neighborhood on Thursday appealed for drinking water and food.
“We need water and food,” a man desperately told Rudaw on Thursday in Intisar. Speaking in a mix of Arabic and English, he appealed for help from the outside world, despairing of getting any help from Iraqi forces themselves.
