Iraqi army declares Zanjali free from ISIS, reduces its pockets in west Mosul to three
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi army declared it had taken control of the neighborhood of Zanjali, reducing the total ISIS pockets in the western half of embattled Mosul to three, an official announced.
“The Zanjali neighborhood has fully been liberated,” Shakir Jawdat, commander of the Iraqi Federal Police announced. “A bomb and mortar making factory has been discovered in it.”
Jawdat added that “a large portion of ammunition and military equipment were seized from the factory.”
As ISIS continues to lose its grip on territories in the few remaining pockets in west Mosul, it launched a surprise attack on the town of Shargat in the south of the city in a bid to minimize the army’s advances, a local official announced, claiming that the attack was repelled.
A number of the militants were able to infiltrate Shargat and later went on a rampage against the security forces, but “sixteen militants were killed inside the town and a curfew was imposed.”
A number of the militants were able to infiltrate Shargat and later went on a rampage against the security forces, but “sixteen militants were killed inside the town and a curfew was imposed.”
ISIS had lost control over Shargat to the Iraqi armed forces in September 2016 before the Mosul liberation operation was launched.
The group now retains control of just three neighborhoods overall in Mosul, including the Old Mosul district, Shifa and Bab al-Sinjar.
In Old Mosul district, where the heaviest battle is expected to place amid its old style houses and narrow alleys, ISIS launched a counterattack near the New Mosul Stadium. Iraqi forces fended off the assault, killing three militants.
The fight for Old Mosul, home to al-Nuri mosque where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate nearly three years ago, is expected to be the bloodiest in a conflict that has already been marked by horrific civilian casualties.
Iraqi forces have been trying to take control of Shifa hospital in the neighborhood for a few weeks now, but have not yet reached it.
Regarding the lives of civilians caught in crossfire between the army troops and the militants, Jawdat said they continued to rescue civilians in liberated Zanjali and Shifa.
There are, however, many reports of civilians being killed as they try to flee. The UN reported more than 140 civilians have been killed as they tried to escape the fighting in the past week.
The coalition estimates that fewer than 1,000 militants remain in western Mosul.
The group now retains control of just three neighborhoods overall in Mosul, including the Old Mosul district, Shifa and Bab al-Sinjar.
In Old Mosul district, where the heaviest battle is expected to place amid its old style houses and narrow alleys, ISIS launched a counterattack near the New Mosul Stadium. Iraqi forces fended off the assault, killing three militants.
The fight for Old Mosul, home to al-Nuri mosque where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his caliphate nearly three years ago, is expected to be the bloodiest in a conflict that has already been marked by horrific civilian casualties.
Iraqi forces have been trying to take control of Shifa hospital in the neighborhood for a few weeks now, but have not yet reached it.
Visiting the frontlines earlier this month, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces, predicted that victory over ISIS in the northern Iraqi city will come “very soon.”
Regarding the lives of civilians caught in crossfire between the army troops and the militants, Jawdat said they continued to rescue civilians in liberated Zanjali and Shifa.
There are, however, many reports of civilians being killed as they try to flee. The UN reported more than 140 civilians have been killed as they tried to escape the fighting in the past week.
The coalition estimates that fewer than 1,000 militants remain in western Mosul.