In the battle for Mosul, grenades rain down from ISIS drones
MOSUL, Iraq--ISIS militants have used drones to drop grenades on the elite Iraqi Counter-terrorism Forces (ICTS) in Mosul, a new tactic aimed at slowing down the Iraqi forces as they approach the 4th bridge across the Tigris River that bisects the city.
The Iraqi soldiers have to be aware of what rains down from the sky as ISIS is attacking from above, as well as from the ground, Rudaw’s correspondent Nabard Hussein reported, noting that during the hour he and his crew were reporting with the Iraqi forces, at least ten grenades were dropped by ISIS drones.
"The Tigris River is behind this house we are at now,” Maan Saad, an ICTS commander, told Rudaw from a position near the centre of the city. “Our operation is continuing and our forces are advancing in Baath (Furqan) district. More than half of the district is under our control. The operation, God willing, will continue."
Saturday evening, Iraq’s joint command released a statement declaring that they are in control of Furqan neighbourhood, putting them one kilometer from the Tigris River and in control of the intersection leading to the 4th bridge.
ISIS caused “severe damage” to this bridge on Saturday, coalition spokesperson Col. John Dorrian tweeted, describing it as a “Desperate act as they continue losing ground.”
The coalition had previously struck all five of Mosul’s bridges, disabling but not destroying them in order to prevent ISIS’ free movement across the river.