MOSUL, Iraq — After three days of intense clashes between ISIS and the Iraqi army in Mosul’s northern district of Arabi, the army has taken full control of the area late Sunday afternoon.
After Arabi fell to the Iraqi army’s 16th Division, the army is now preparing to march into the last major district of Rashidiyah, also in the north and have reached the neighbourhood’s limits, Rudaw’s correspondent at the scene, Farhad Dolamari, reported. Coalition warplanes are bombing ISIS positions in the neighborhood.
Iraqi forces were engaged in heavy clashes since Sunday morning with ISIS militants in Arabi, at least three days after the advancing forces entered the district, one of the last major areas where the extremist group is still present in the eastern half of the city.
Iraq’s Joint Command had announced the “full liberation” of the district on Saturday, but Rudaw’s Farhad Dolamari, on the northern edge of the Tigris river that bisects the city, reported ongoing clashes, days after Iraq’s army advanced into the district.
The army's 15th and 16th Divisions entered the Arabi neighborhood on Friday, faced with strong resistance put up by the ISIS militants.
ISIS stills holds onto the adjacent Rashidiyah and Malayin neighborhoods.
Rudaw’s cameras have captured several men holding a white flag carrying what appears to be a dead body wrapped in a blanket.
Iraqi special forces declared victory in the eastern half of the city last Wednesday, more than three months after the launch of the Mosul offensive, supported by the US-led coalition, while adding that only few places remained to be controlled north of the city, where Iraqi army is tasked with its liberation.
After Arabi fell to the Iraqi army’s 16th Division, the army is now preparing to march into the last major district of Rashidiyah, also in the north and have reached the neighbourhood’s limits, Rudaw’s correspondent at the scene, Farhad Dolamari, reported. Coalition warplanes are bombing ISIS positions in the neighborhood.
Iraqi forces were engaged in heavy clashes since Sunday morning with ISIS militants in Arabi, at least three days after the advancing forces entered the district, one of the last major areas where the extremist group is still present in the eastern half of the city.
Iraq’s Joint Command had announced the “full liberation” of the district on Saturday, but Rudaw’s Farhad Dolamari, on the northern edge of the Tigris river that bisects the city, reported ongoing clashes, days after Iraq’s army advanced into the district.
The army's 15th and 16th Divisions entered the Arabi neighborhood on Friday, faced with strong resistance put up by the ISIS militants.
ISIS stills holds onto the adjacent Rashidiyah and Malayin neighborhoods.
Rudaw’s cameras have captured several men holding a white flag carrying what appears to be a dead body wrapped in a blanket.
Iraqi special forces declared victory in the eastern half of the city last Wednesday, more than three months after the launch of the Mosul offensive, supported by the US-led coalition, while adding that only few places remained to be controlled north of the city, where Iraqi army is tasked with its liberation.
Follow Rudaw’s comprehensive live Map for Mosul offensive.
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
