Peshmerga liberated 500 square kilometers from IS

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Kurdistan Region General Command of Peshmerga Forces on Sunday revealed that 500 square kilometers had been cleared from the Islamic State (IS) in the north and east of Mosul.

In a statement, the General Command of Peshmerga Forces released the latest updates on the Peshmerga progress in the Mosul operation.

According to the statement, Kurdish forces had cleared six villages in the north and east of Mosul.

These include Faziliya, Kevrok, Khrab Bet, Kani Shirin, Khadheir, Qebr Esaaq, and the Mar Oraha monastery close to the town of Batnaya.

“Since the start of the Mosul operation on Oct. 17, Peshmerga forces have cleared more than 500 square kilometers from IS, including at least 28 villages in the north and east of Mosul,” the statement added.

Additionally, Peshmerga forces extended control over several IS lines of communication into Mosul.

The statement explained that Peshmerga forces took control of “major roads from Bashiqa, Batnaya, Filfel, and Nawaran in an effort to tighten the grip on IS’ last major stronghold and significantly limit their ability to reinforce their positions.”

During the two weeks of the Peshmerga operation backed by coalition warplanes, dozens of IS extremists were killed, and at least 50 car bombs were destroyed, the statement said.

According to the report, coalition warplanes had conducted approximately 550 airstrikes on insurgents’ positions.

“To date at least 800 IS IEDs have been dismantled across front line positions and major roads,” the statement continued. “Counter-IED teams continue to clear the heavily-mined areas.”

At least 7,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) have fled to the Kurdistan Region since the start of the offensive, the statement concluded.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany