News / Iraq

Iraqi CTS commander: 90% of Mosul liberated from Daesh

Monday, 16 January 2017 10:39 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 17 January 2017 3:24 AM ]

A member of Iraqi rapid response forces takes his position during a battle with Daesh militants in the district of Yarimja in southern Mosul, Iraq, January 16, 2017. (Photos by Reuters)

A high ranking commander in Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) says that around 90 percent of eastern Mosul has been purged of its Daeshi occupiers.

Staff Lieutenant General Abdulghani al-Assadi made the announcement late on Monday as clashes are raging on between CTS forces and Takfiri terrorists.

Meanwhile, CTS spokesman Sabah al-Noman said that Iraqi forces had managed to take full control Nabi Yunus area, where earlier in the day they had liberated an important mosque which is a popular pilgrimage location.

"We retook control of Nabi Yunus area... raised the Iraqi flag above the tomb," he said, adding that several other neighborhoods were also liberated during the Monday anti-terror operations.

Car bombs target progressing Iraqi forces

Daesh targeted Iraqi troops with at least three car bombs in Mosul’s neighborhoods of Shurta and Andalus, where special forces are engaged with the Takfiri terrorists.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) react after a car bomb exploded during an operation to clear the al-Andalus district of Daesh militants, in Mosul, Iraq, January 16, 2017.

"It has been three days since the counter-terrorism service began encircling (this district) and thanks God, today they were able to clear the area completely. The situation will become better. Before it was difficult, we were unable leave our homes for ten days. It has been a real struggle," said a resident of Andalus.

Both neighborhoods are located close to the eastern bank of the Tigris river, and within sight of the city's northernmost bridge which spans the river.

Once the east bank is fully recaptured, Iraqi forces will launch operations to retake western Mosul from the terrorists.

Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) gather during an operation to clear the al-Andalus district of Daesh militants, in Mosul, Iraq, January 16, 2017

Iraqi army soldiers, supported by fighters from Popular Mobilization Units --commonly known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha’abi -- and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, launched a joint operation on October 17, 2016 to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists.

A total of 137,880 people have been displaced from Mosul and neighboring areas ever since the start of the operations, according to figures released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) on January 9.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk