VIDEO: Iraqi forces control Mosul University campus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi Counter-Terrorism (CT) forces pushed the Islamic State (IS) out of a Mosul University campus liberating the area from the extremist group, said a commander on Saturday.

The forces stormed the University on Friday and controlled several buildings. On Saturday morning, they freed the entire campus from IS.

Additionally, Iraqi troops liberated the western and eastern neighborhoods of Yarmijah in southeastern Mosul, according to a statement from the Mosul Operation Commander.

The statement also mentioned the troops freed all the areas in southeastern Mosul including Younis Sab’awi, Yafa, al-Intissar, al-Shaima, al-Saha, al-Wahda, al-Sabireen, Sumar, al-Sahiroon, al-Salam, Palestine, Jadida al-Mufti, Mithaq, al-Doomiz, and al-Salam hospital.

The report added the forces had raised the Iraqi national flag on top of buildings and began clearing the liberated areas from the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) planted by IS.

On Oct. 17, 2016, Iraqi and Kurdish Peshmerga forces launched a military operation to liberate Mosul from the insurgent group.

Since then, the troops have extensively advanced from the east and north of the city, retaking over 80 percent of the eastern side of Mosul. 

IS occupied Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, in June 2016. The group shortly expanded to other parts of the country, controlling large swaths of territory.

The extremists have since lost its grip on most of the territories and continue to shrink as the operation is ongoing.

During his speech on New Year’s Day, the Prime Minister of Iraq Haider al-Abadi said Mosul would be completely liberated within the first three months of 2017.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany