Iraqi fighters take control of more areas near Mosul

Iraq's pro-government Popular Mobilization Units have managed to take control of new strategic areas near Mosul, the last urban stronghold of the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in the Arab country, amid attempts by the terrorist group to reorganize itself elsewhere.

The Iraqi volunteer forces, commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi, said on Friday that they had captured the road linking the towns of Sinjar and al-Ba’aj, located west of the recently liberated district of Qairawan, which lies to the west of Mosul.

According to al-Sumaria news website, the popular forces had also captured the villages of Biski, al-Hatemia, Qabusia and Rambus Gharbia.

Domiz residential complex and Sinjar military base, located to the west of Mosul, were also liberated from the control of the Daesh terrorists.

The advances come as Iraqi army soldiers and pro-government popular fighters are engaged in a large-scale military operation to completely liberate Mosul.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.

US hampering Mosul liberation operation

A senior commander of Hashd al-Sha’abi slammed the so-called US-led coalition purportedly fighting Daesh, saying it was hindering efforts to liberate Mosul.

Hadi al-Ameri said the coalition provided very little assistance to the Iraqi troops.

The United States and some of its allies have been carrying out airstrikes in Iraq since June 2014 allegedly targeting Daesh terrorists. The raids, which have done little to dislodge the terror group, have on numerous occasions claimed many civilian lives and inflicted damage on the Iraqi infrastructure.

Daesh moves from Mosul to Hawijah

As Daesh loses its grip on Mosul, reports say the terrorist group is trying to reorganize itself in another Iraqi city.

Anwar al-Assi, the supervisor of Hawijah liberation force, said on Friday that Daesh had transferred its headquarters from Mosul to the city of Hawijah in the southwestern province of Kirkuk.

He said senior commanders of Daesh had chosen the city and the areas of al-Rab, al-Riad, al-Abbasi and al-Rashad following their defeat in Mosul.

Assi said about 400 terrorists had been relocated to the city, some of them via the Tigris River, on Thursday.

He added that the terrorists were transferred with their eyes covered in order to keep them from learning the route.

Assi said Daesh had mobilized its terrorists to attack Hamrin Mountains and Alas and Ajil oil fields as well as the areas bordering Tuz and Amerli.

Meanwhile, Kirkuk Governor Najmaldin Karim warned that Hawijah would turn into the de facto capital of Daesh in the absence of security forces.

According to Iraqi sources, Hawijah and its surrounding areas have been under the control of Daesh since summer 2014.

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