Mosul operation back on track after sandstorm, new areas liberated

MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi forces said Saturday they liberated a new district in Mosul and four more villages northeast of the city, after days of dust-filled skies that hampered ground forces providing coordinates for air strikes against ISIS targets.

The elite Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (ICT) has liberated the district of al-Kafaat 3 in northeastern Mosul, the Iraqi War Media Office announced.

It also said that the villages of Abu Jarbuah, Qaratapa, al Darawish and Gura Khayraban were liberated. 

A sandstorm hit the Mosul area late last week and continued to Saturday.

Better weather conditions on Sunday enabled Iraqi forces to help guide at least four air strikes on ISIS positions by coalition forces in the northeastern districts of Mosul, a Rudaw reporter embedded with Iraqi forces said.

He reported a number of Iraqi helicopters seen flying around the same districts.

Iraqi security forces have liberated more than 23 eastern districts of Mosul since the launch of the Mosul operation about 50 days ago.