Iraqi forces control Nabi Younis Shrine in eastern Mosul as ISIS runs

16-01-2017
Rudaw
Tags: Iraqi army ISIS Nabi Younis Shrine
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi armed forces liberated the ISIS-destroyed Nabi Younis Shrine in the east of Mosul on Monday, as the group flees into the western part of the war-torn city.
 
“The Iraqi forces arrived in Nabi Younis Shrine which is located on the end of eastern Mosul,” said Rudaw reporter Hevidar Ahmed who is embedded with the Iraqi army and is the first journalist to reach the shrine. He added that the army has continued its advances.
 
“Nothing remains inside the shrine. It is all destroyed,” he added.
 
The Nabi Younis Shrine, where Prophet Jonah's tomb is located, is a sacred place for Muslims; however, it was bombed by ISIS in 2014.
 
The Iraqi armed forces already had announced they controlled 90-percent of the left bank of Mosul, numbering 61 neighborhoods.
 
“There are just five neighborhoods on the left bank of Mosul yet to be liberated,” Yahya Rasool, the Iraqi commander of the ‘We are Coming Nineveh’ operation announced on Sunday. “But, the Iraqi armed forces want to liberate the left side of Mosul this week — entirely,”
 
Since the second phase of the Mosul operation resumed on Dec. 29, ISIS has experienced major losses as the group was forced out of many neighborhoods and areas on the city’s left bank.
 
On Sunday and Monday, Iraqi forces made significant progress against ISIS. They announced the full liberation of southeastern and eastern Mosul, as well as retaking the strategic University of Mosul in the north.
 
According to Lt. General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi from Iraq’s Golden Brigade, there are few remaining districts still held by ISIS, including Shurta, Muhandiseen, and Zaraai on the edge of the Tigris River from the eastern bank, and also Arabi district north of the city which the Iraqi army is tasked to liberate.

 

 

 

 

 


Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required