Clashes continue in Mosul outskirts as forces enter new neighborhood

INTISAR, Mosul City-- Iraqi Special Forces have gained control of large parts of the Mosul district of Intisar, south of the city, Tuesday after little resistance from ISIS militants, Rudaw embedded correspondent Nabard Hussein reports.

 

Counter sniper teams from Iraq's elite security forces have tried to locate attackers in the neighborhood on Tuesday after a series of deadly sniper attacks targeted army convoys that are now pushing to retake the remaining parts of the district.

 

"No-one is really safe including civilians as far as sniper attacks continue in this neighborhood," Hussein said.

 

"Gunshots are heard with frequency inside the district which are believed to be snipers deterring army units from pushing north," he added.

 

The human conditions also remain dire in most parts of the liberated neighborhoods of the city with acute shortage of food and daily needs, residents told Hussein.

 

"What are we supposed to eat, there are no stores and no food to buy," said a resident in Intisar as the city has been virtually shut down since the operation started over three weeks ago.

 

"When the sporadic gunfire dampens, people get out of their houses and ask the army for food and necessities," said Hussein.

 

Aid agencies have rushed to several liberated areas in south outskirts of Mosul delivering food and basic medical supplies but the relief effort has been relatively slow due to the booby trapped roads and sniper attacks, he added.

 

In Hammam Alil neighborhood, Iraqi forces have worked hectically to deactivate or blow the planted landmines. Army officers told Rudaw that many areas have been cleared but still caution residents of possible explosives.   

 

"ISIS didn't really put up any considerable resistance here, but the explosives that they planted throughout the neighborhood have been our major concern," said an army commander.