News / Iraq

Iraqi troops kill 30 Daeshi bombers in west Mosul

Sunday, 09 April 2017 8:29 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 09 April 2017 8:29 PM ]

A sniper with the Iraqi Federal Police stays in his position in a sniper's nest of the Iraqi forces fighting Daesh in western Mosul, Iraq on April 9, 2017. (Photos by Reuters)

Iraqi security forces have killed at least 30 Daesh bombers during operations to liberate western Mosul from the Takfiri terrorists.

According to Colonel Hashim Fadel, the terrorists were killed when the forces of the elite Counter-Terrorism Service raided a building which was being used as a headquarters in the district of Souq al-Maash.

Iraqi forces have been carrying out operations in the Old City area for several weeks, but they have faced tough resistance, and the progress has been slow.

They are currently advancing through the city’s maze-like streets towards the al-Nuri mosque, where Daesh’s leader, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, announced the forming of the group’s so-called caliphate in 2014.

A member of the Iraqi Federal Police puts bottles of water inside a plastic crate to be lifted to supply a sniper's nest of the Iraqi forces fighting Daesh in western Mosul, Iraq on April 9, 2017.

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"We, the snipers team, are stationed at the defensive lines. Our duty is to provide cover for advancing troops. We are in full control and we are monitoring the enemy's movements and we are providing the headquarters with the coordinates and, thanks to God, the advances are ongoing," said Iraqi sniper Abdul Qader Nadhim Hussein.

Meanwhile, the commander of the Mosul operations, Rasheed Yarallaha, has stressed that the military’s priority was keeping civilians safe and avoiding damage to the city’s infrastructure.

Iraqis attend the first Palm Sunday procession in the burnt out main church of the Christian city of Qaraqosh since Iraqi forces retook it from Daesh militants, Iraq on April 9, 2017

“It is too difficult to give a specific time for the end of battles in Mosul because fighting is going on in densely populated areas in which more than 400,000 citizens are still living in under the control of Daesh. Frankly speaking, I won't sacrifice with the safety of the people,” he said.

"I pay no heed to time for the end of battles, our main goal is how to liberate territories and protect citizens and how to lessen casualties and safeguard infrastructure,'' he added.

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