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Iraqi forces liberate 3 eastern Mosul districts from terrorits’ grip

Tuesday, 03 January 2017 2:34 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 03 January 2017 3:51 PM ]

Iraqi special forces patrol the recently liberated al-Quds neighborhood in eastern Mosul on January 3, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Iraqi forces have managed to wrest control of three neighborhoods in the eastern part of the city of Mosul, where pro-government fighters are conducting a major anti-terror operation.

Iraq's Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported the recapture of Mithaq district, situated on the left bank of the Tigris River, on Tuesday.

Civilians were also seen leaving the area carrying their belongings amid clashes between warring sides.

Meanwhile, Iraq's War Media Cell said that the nearby districts of al-Moarez and al-Majma al-Tejari were also retaken by Iraqi forces.

Mosul is split by the Tigris River, with the eastern half of the city known as the left bank.

Displaced Iraqis, who fled Daesh-held Mosul, gather at Hassan Sham camp, east of Mosul, Iraq, January 2, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Last October, Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters launched a long-awaited offensive to liberate Mosul that fell to Daesh terrorists in 2014. The Takfiri elements have suffered major setbacks on the battlefield amid advances by the Iraqi forces.

Staff Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi, a top commander in Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), announced last week that over 60 percent of eastern Mosul had been recaptured from terrorists.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said recently that it would take three months to rid the whole country of Daesh.

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