MOSUL, Iraq – Iraqi forces have taken control of all the five bridges on the eastern bank of Tigris river Tuesday evening, Rudaw’s correspondent near the fifth bridge reported.
They have also controlled Zaraei district, on the edge of Tigris river, Lt. Gen. Abdulwahab al-Saadi from Iraq’s Golden Brigade told Rudaw TV Tuesday evening.
Advancing Iraqi forces have raised the country's flag over the third bridge in northeast Mosul earlier in the day, while liberating the nearby Muhandiseen district, which was under siege for two days.
The elite Counter Terrorism Forces (ICTS) liberated Nineveh Sharqiyah, Niemanyah, and Atshaniyah districts in eastern Mosul on Tuesday morning, close to the now-ruined Jonah's Tomb which was retaken on Monday following fierce fighting with tens of ISIS militants putting up strong resistance.
Muhandiseen district, where ICTS forces launched a two-day assault on ISIS in the area, was one of the few remaining districts still held by the extremist group on the east side of Tigris river, which bisects the city in two the east and west, the latter still under full ISIS control.
Maan Saad, an ICTS commander, earlier on Tuesday told Rudaw TV in Mosul that ISIS is defeated in nearly all of the eastern half of the city, with only about six districts remaining under the militants’ control. That was before the liberation of Niemaniyah, Atshaniya, and Zaraei.
"On the eastern bank not much is left," Saad said. "Within the scope of the Counter-Terrorism Forces, there are three districts out of control, and the forces are heading towards the liberation and cleaning of these areas. But from the northern front, there are also no more than three districts out of control, and the forces there too are heading towards the liberation and cleaning of these districts. Following this, there will be full control of the eastern bank.”
In northern Mosul, the Iraqi army has taken control of Kanadi installation and the former military base of the second division of the Iraqi army, Iraq’s Joint Operations command announced Tuesday afternoon.
Iraqi forces have already announced the full liberation of the city’s southeastern and eastern districts that number more than 60 neighbourhoods since the launch of the Mosul operation more than three months ago.
On Monday, with the support of global coalition forces, the Iraqi army liberated Kanadi – different from Kanadi installation – and Qairawan, in the north of the city. While the ICTS, advancing from the northeast and southeast, took control of Shurta and Jammasa district, the Cultural Compound, and Nabi Yunis – the tomb of Prophet Jonah.
Rudaw’s Sidad Lashkri in Mosul reported that the few remaining buildings within Mosul University were cleared of ISIS on Tuesday, including the colleges of art, law, and primary education, after Iraqi forces announced the campus’ liberation on the weekend.
Fighting is ongoing in the parkland area of Ghabat district on the Tigris River, Ghabat meaning forest. It is a large wooded area where it is believed militants are hiding out.
Rudaw’s cameras captured plumes of smoke rising from burned-out buildings in the Ghabat area
Follow the updates on Rudaw’s Live Map
Map legend:
Dark green - under Peshmerga control
Light green - encircled/battling by Peshmerga
Red - under Iraqi control
Pink - encircled/battling by Iraqi forces
Yellow - under Hashd al-Shaabi control
Orange - encircled/battling by Hashd al-Shaabi
