Iraqi forces confident Mosul battle will end in ‘few days’

MOSUL, Iraq (Kurdistan24) – Iraqi forces on Tuesday continued their advance toward the river side of Mosul’s Old City, a significant target in the battle to remove the Islamic State (IS) from the area.

Federal police announced the liberation of the Ziwani mosque from IS, adding a complete victory in the Old City was “only a few days away.”

“The victory announcement will come in a very short time,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on his website on Monday night.

According to Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi of the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), the Iraqi troops were making substantial progress against the militant group.

Saadi said the security forces were battling less than 350 IS insurgents who were hiding among civilians in the Old City.

“The operation is continuing to free the remaining parts of the Old City,” he told a Reuters correspondent near the front lines.

Additionally, Federal Police Commander Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat told Iraqi State TV his forces were edging closer to the western bank of the Tigris River.

“In a few days, our forces will reach Cornishe Street and bring the battle to its conclusion,” Jawdat declared.

The offensive to liberate Mosul began in October 2016.

Since then, the Iraqi troops have regained the eastern half of the city after the first phase of the operation concluded in January 2017.

Despite the slow advance in the western part of the city, the militants are restricted to approximately 2.5 square kilometers (one square mile) of territory in the city.

Victory in Mosul would end IS’ reign in Iraq while a US-backed, Kurdish-led offensive against the militants continues in neighboring Syria.