Iraqi forces advance, control ‘fourth bridge’ in western Mosul
Iraqi forces on Monday liberated the al-Jawsaq neighborhood and controlled the fourth bridge in western Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), according to the Iraqi operations command.
MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi forces on Monday liberated the al-Jawsaq neighborhood and controlled the fourth bridge in western Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), according to the Iraqi operations command.
As part of the military operation to free the western side of Mosul from the extremist group, Iraqi troops advanced and liberated the al-Tairan and al-Jawsaq neighborhoods, Mosul Operation Commander Abdul-Amir Yarallah stated.
He also mentioned the troops had controlled the fourth bridge connecting the east and west of Mosul in the south of the city.
Moreover, the clashes between IS and Iraqi forces continued in Wadi al-Hajr, north of the al-Ghazlani military base.
The forces aim to retake the al-Dawasa neighborhood where many of the Iraqi governmental buildings are located near the al-Tairan neighborhood.
Yarallah stated the forces had also liberated the al-Mamoun neighborhood on Sunday.
The extremist group occupied Mosul in June 2014 and shortly expanded to other parts of Iraq including Nineveh, Diyala, Salahaddin, Kirkuk, and Anbar provinces.
Since then, the group has lost most of the territory it once controlled, and its influence continues to shrink in the country.
On Oct. 17, 2016, Iraqi and Peshmerga forces launched the military operation to liberate Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq.
In less than four months, the troops retook eastern and northern parts of the city.
On Feb. 19, Iraqi forces began the offensive to free the western part of the city from IS.
The operation is ongoing as the forces slowly push the insurgent group from the south of the city.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany