EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Liberated neighborhood of Muthanna in Mosul

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi forces advanced early Friday to another neighborhood in the eastern part of Mosul as the military operation to liberate the city from the so-called Islamic State (IS) continues, Iraqi state media reported.

The media stated that the forces crossed al-Khawsar neighborhood in the northeastern Mosul and entered the neighborhood of al-Muthanna. Clashes continue in the area, and the government troops detonated at least two IS vehicles laden with explosives.

In the video below, Kurdistan24 correspondent Masoud Mohammed presents the neighborhood for the first time since June 2014:

Iraqi local news reports also mentioned that the security forces stormed and freed the complex apartments in the neighborhood of al-Hadbaa, located in the north of Mosul.

Since the beginning of the Mosul operation on October 17, Iraqi forces have retaken many areas from the jihadist group including 70 percent of territory from the eastern part of the city.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi stated that Mosul would be liberated within three months.

IS occupied Mosul in June 2014 and shortly after expanded to other parts of the country. Since then, Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have freed large swaths of territory from the IS.

The Mosul operation has been slow due to the fierce resistance by the IS militants, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs), and civilians who flee from the area.

Iraqi commanders have repeatedly stated that the jihadist group mostly uses the VBIEDs to slow down the advance of the security forces in the city.

As the offensive continues, more civilians are displaced. According to the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement, over 160,000 people have fled Mosul since the beginning of the operation.

Editing by Ava Homa