Mosul update

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Forces Retake a Third of Western Mosul

Mira Rojkan

13/03/2017 - 01:10

Iraq

 

LEADS — Iraqi forces have retaken more than a third of the western neighborhoods of Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, a commander said on Sunday. 

Staff Major General Maan al-Saadi of the elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) told AFP on Sunday that the forces have retaken more than a third of the right bank of the Tigris River in western Mosul. 

He further explained that the CTS forces have been battling in the areas of al-Jadida and Al-Aghawat since the early hours on Sunday, but the complexity of the clashes is expected to increase in the coming hours. 

Meanwhile, forces from the Rapid Response Division, together with the federal police were attacking the Bab al-Toub area, the Joint Operations Command (JOC) reported later on the same day. 

However, the fighting is generally complicated, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, the spokesperson for the JOC, who spoke to AFP said. Rasool pointed out that the forces are currently fighting an "irregular enemy" who uses citizens as human shields and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which puts civilians in danger. He stressed on the importance of putting civilians safety first as a main priority. 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336027

[tigergorzow]

12 minutes ago, tigergorzow said:

The statement followed reports from the Iraqi army confirming that they are now in control of the last road leading out of Mosul, practically surrounding the extremists in the city with almost no chance to survive.

The ISIS cowards left in Western Mosul will either be KILLED or they will SURRENDER within 10 days IMHO.  I have been following the map layout for some time now and the Iraqi & Coalition Forces are moving at a rapid pace.

GO LIBERATION OF MOSUL

[tigergorzow]

 

 

 

Brett McGurk‏Verified account @brett_mcgurk 8h8 hours ago

 

Promising visit to Baghdad as Iraqi forces close in on #ISIS strongholds in #Mosul. Met PM, FM, DM, Speaker, praised heroism of Iraqi units.

pic.twitter.com/dsQEW1z6FK

https://twitter.com/brett_mcgurk

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi general: 40% of west Mosul seized from ISIL

US envoy to anti-ISIL coalition says neighbourhoods held by the armed group are completely surrounded by Iraqi forces.

12 Mar 2017 17:19 GMT

 

Iraqi forces are battling ISIL inside Mosul's western disctricts for full control of the major city [Ari Jalal/Reuters]

Iraqi security forces have seized control of more than one-third of western Mosul after a week of steady gains in their battle to retake the ISIL-held city where 600,000 civilians are trapped.

Staff Major-General Maan al-Saadi of Iraq's elite counter-terrorism service told AFP news agency on Sunday about 17 of 40 western districts of the second-largest city had been retaken from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

 

Human cost of battle for Mosul

It was not possible to independently confirm the claim. 

"The enemy has lost its fighting power and its resolve has weakened. It has begun to lose command and control," said Saadi.

He said his forces were fighting ISIL - also known as ISIS - inside the Mosul al-Jadida and al-Aghawat areas on Sunday.

Iraq's joint operations command said another special forces unit and federal police were attacking the Bab al-Toub area on the edge of Mosul's Old City.

"The battle is not easy... We are fighting an irregular enemy who hides among the citizens and uses tactics of booby-trapping, explosions, and suicide bombers, and the operation is taking place with precision to preserve the lives of the citizens," said Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool.

Later on Sunday, Brett McGurk, the US envoy to the anti-ISIL coalition, said the remaining western Mosul neighbourhoods held by the group were completely surrounded by Iraqi forces.

ISIL "is trapped. Just last night, the 9th Iraqi army division, up near Badush, just northwest of Mosul, cut off the last road out of Mosul," he said.

"Any of the fighters who are left in Mosul, they're going to die there, because they're trapped. So we are very committed to not just defeating them in Mosul, but making sure these guys cannot escape."

McGurk said that ISIL had already lost more than 60 percent of the territory it once held in Iraq.

 

As many as 600,000 civilians are trapped with ISIL fighters inside west Mosul.

More than 65,000 people have been displaced by the fighting in the past two weeks, bringing the total number to more than 200,000 since the campaign to recapture Mosul began last October, according to the International Organisation for Migration.

ISIL seized Mosul in mid-2014 when the group swept across areas north and west of Baghdad, taking control of swathes of territory and declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

Backed by US-led air strikes and other military support, Iraqi forces have since retaken much of the territory they lost.

Losing Mosul would be a major blow to ISIL, but the group is expected to pose a continuing threat, reverting to insurgent tactics such as bombings.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/iraqi-general-30-west-mosul-seized-isil-170312132954991.html

Edited March 13, 2017 by tigergorzow

[MyLadiesDaddy]

2 hours ago, tigergorzow said:

The ISIS cowards left in Western Mosul will either be KILLED or they will SURRENDER within 10 days IMHO.  I have been following the map layout for some time now and the Iraqi & Coalition Forces are moving at a rapid pace.

GO LIBERATION OF MOSUL

I love the premise from which you proceed. However, that is if these insane idiots actually make the mistake of thinking that they can defeat the coalition forces. I think that we're going to see a large massive surrender in the next few days. To tell the truth I thought they would have done it already. But sooner than latter whoever it is that is keeping them in the game is going to get killed and then we will see the rest give up.  

[yota691]

urgent .. Iraqi forces liberated "New Mosul"

 

 Twilight News    

 

 40 minutes ago

 

 

Twilight News / Iraqi forces managed to regain a new neighborhood in Mosul , Ayman, where fighting has existed for about a month. 
The commander of the operations are coming Aaninoy Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Rasheed Aarallah stated in an interview for Twilight News, said the anti - terrorism forces liberated New Mosul neighborhood in the right coast of the city of Mosul and raise the Iraqi flag over the buildings. 
Iraqi troops were restored earlier in the day oil neighborhood in Mosul, and stormed into the role of staff.

[yota691]

Harbi media cell announce the new release of Mosul entirely                                                                                                          17 minutes ago

[gregp]

Thanks, Yota!! The train is pulling in the station! This ride is almost over!

[boosterbglee]

Agree Greg......this may get the ball rolling! 

[blueskyline]

Thank You Yota ......WOW !

[Wiljor]

Thanks Yota and tigergorzow 

The liberation of Mosul should imo begin to align other major elements falling into place. Now watch as Babylon rises from the ashes..........back to its former glory  

Edited March 13, 2017 by Wiljor

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi forces capture village in eastern Badoush, Mosul

March 13 2017 09:44 AM

Iraqi joint forces in Mosul

Iraq War Media cell announced on Monday that the Iraqi security forces recaptured Dernagoukh village in eastern Badoush neighbourhood in the right bank of Mosul after fierce battles with ISIS militants.

In a press statement, Commander of "We Are Coming Nineveh" Abdel Amir Rashid Yarallah said the 16th Infantry Division of the Iraqi Army has successfully liberated Dernagoukh overlooking the eastern bank of Tigris River.

The capture of the village came after fierce battles that inflicted heavy humanitarian and material losses on ISIS terrorist group.

Early on Sunday, the War Media Cell announced the capture of al-Aghawat district in the right bank of Mosul and raised the Iraqi flags over its buildings.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8055/Iraqi-forces-capture-village-in-eastern-Badoush-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

"We Are Coming Ninveh" Command captures al-Naft district in Mosul

March 13 2017 10:26 AM

Breaking

"We Are Coming Nineveh" Operation Command announced Monday that the Iraqi security forces recaptured al-Naft district in the right bank of Mosul.

On Sunday, the Iraqi army announced that they have fully controlled more districts in the western side of the city.

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Forces on Sunday stormed Mosul al-Jadidah and al-Aghawat districts and their surroundinhs in western Mosul, Commander of "We Are Coming Nineveh" Operations Lieutenant General Abd al-Amir Rashid Yarallah announced.
 
On February 19th, the Iraqi Army launched a massive operation to retake the western side of Mosul after they have fully controlled the right bank of the embattled city.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8057/We-Are-Coming-Ninveh-Command-captures-al-Naft-district-in-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

US: ISIS militants left in Mosul will die

March 13 2017 02:08 PM

US: ISIS militants left in Mosul will die

Any ISIS militants left in the Iraqi city of Mosul will die there, the BBC quoted the US envoy to the multinational coalition battling the jihadist group as saying on Monday.
 

Brett McGurk said coalition and Iraqi government forces were "committed to not just defeating them in Mosul, but making sure these guys cannot escape".

He issued the warning after the Iraqi army's ninth division cut off the last road out of the west of the city.

Mosul is the last major urban ISIS stronghold in Iraq.

But Iraqi forces, backed by coalition air strikes and military advisers on the ground, have managed to retake large areas in the past five months.

They now control all of Mosul's eastern side, and have driven ISIS militants from several western districts since mid-February.

"Mosul's liberation is increasingly in sight, albeit with increasingly difficult fighting ahead,'' McGurk told reporters.

He said Iraqi forces were retaking "some of the most difficult ground that we knew would have to be reclaimed".

He added: "They're doing this in a dense urban environment facing a suicidal enemy that's using civilians as shields.''

A US defence official said last week that there were no more than 2,500 ISIS fighters left in Mosul and Tal Afar, a town about 60km to the west.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8069/US-ISIS-militants-left-in-Mosul-will-die

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi forces regain Mosul al Jadedah district in Mosul

March 13 2017 03:58 PM

Breaking

Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Forces regained Mosul al Jadedah district in the right bank of Mosul city, Commander of "We Are Coming Nineveh" Operations Lieutenant General Abd al-Amir Rashid Yarallah announced on Monday.

The forces raised the Iraqi flag on the district's buildings, he further said.
 
On February 19th, the Iraqi Army launched a massive operation to retake the western side of Mosul after they have fully controlled the right bank of the embattled city.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8078/Iraqi-forces-regain-Mosul-al-Jadedah-district-in-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

15 ISIS militants killed in foiled attack in west of Mosul

March 13 2017 04:49 PM

15 ISIS militants killed in foiled attack in west of Mosul

A total of 15 ISIS terrorists were killed when Iraqi forces foiled their attack in Mafraq Al Hadar district in west of Mosul city, Iraqi joint forces said on Monday.
 

Clashes between the Iraqi forces and ISIS lasted for about 30 minutes while two vehicles belonging to the terrorist group were destroyed during the clashes.

Iraqi Forces launched a major offensive on 19^th of February to retake the western part of Mosul after declaring total control of the eastern part of the city on 24^th of January as part of the military operations to liberate the city that started on 17^th of October 2016.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8081/15-ISIS-militants-killed-in-foiled-attack-in-west-of-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

Khidr Mosque regained in Mosul right bank

March 13 2017 05:37 PM

Khidr Mosque

Iraqi security forces re-controlled ancient al-Khidr Mosque near Corniche Street in central Mosul, a source who requested anonymity told The Baghdad Post on Monday.
 

Al-Khidr Mosque was built in 1133 along the Tigris River in Mosul. Named in honor of the Islamic figure Khidr, the interior of the mosque features Islamic art and not much that ISIS would objectively find haram except that Khidr is a beloved figure in Sufi Islam, and ISIS has frequently destroyed Sufi shrines wherever they find them.

ISIS destroyed the mosque on February 26 or 27, 015, around the same time the Mosul Museum video was released.

Iraqi Forces launched a major offensive on 19^th of February to retake the western part of Mosul after declaring total control of the eastern part of the city on 24^th of January as part of the military operations to liberate the city that started on 17^th of October 2016.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8083/Khidr-Mosque-regained-in-Mosul-right-bank

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Army 16th Division detains 20 ISIS terrorists in northern Mosul

March 13 2017 11:43 AM

Iraqi Army

Iraqi security forces arrested 20 ISIS terrorists in northern Mosul, a source in the 16th Division of Iraqi army said on Monday.

The 20-member cell of terrorists were detained according to an intelligence tip-off by locals, the source explained.

The 16th Division stormed a residential complex in al-Hadhbaa district where they seized explosives and silenced guns, he added.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8061/Iraqi-Army-16th-Division-detains-20-ISIS-terrorists-in-northern-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

Iraq commander: Operations to liberate west Anbar soon

March 13 2017 11:36 AM

Anbar Commander Qassim al-Mohammadi

Commander of al-Jazeera Operations Lt General Qassim al-Mohammadi asserted that operations to liberate western Anbar districts of Annah, Rawah and Qa'im will be launched soon.

In press statements on Monday, Lt General al-Mohammadi said the operations to liberate western Anbar will strat after the end of current military operations to recapture the right bank of Mosul from ISIS  terrorist group which has been controlling the city since June 2014.

Military sectors will be notified on the date of Anbar offensive after the proclamation of the end of Mosul battles.

Earlier, press reports quoted an Iraqi Army officer as saying that 2,000 US troops have arrived at a military base in Anbar province to back the ongoing Iraqi offensive against ISIS militants.

The lieutenant colonel, who requested anonymity, said to The Baghdad post on Monday, " 2000 U.S. soldiers within the international coalition have arrived at the Ain al-Assad military base, 90 km western Ramadi, the capital of Anbar governorate."

He added the personnel are expected to back imminent Iraqi operations to liberate districts of Annah, Rawah and al-Qa'im in western Anbar.

On February 19, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced the launch of a major offensive to retake the western side of Mosul, the latest stronghold of ISIS in Iraq.

Up to 60 percent of the western side of the city has been liberated from ISIS and operations are still underway till the city is fully liberated.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8060/Iraq-commander-Operations-to-liberate-west-Anbar-soon

[tigergorzow]

Government forces seize control of Ashur Hotel in Mosul's right bank

March 13 2017 08:06 PM

Mosul offensive continues

Commander of Federal Police Units Gen. Raid Shaker Jawdat said on Monday the government forces have recaptured Ashur Hotel located in the ancient part of Mosul's right bank.

Units of the Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces are combing the area as well as the freed parts in the neighborhood of Bab Al-Tub in search of any explosive charges or terrorists hiding amid civilians, he added.

The Iraqi forces are advancing are advancing on Al-Atiq Bridge after recapturing Al-Khidr Mosque and Al-Sabongi neighborhood in the right bank of the city.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced on February 19 the start of an operation to liberate the western side of the flashpoint city of Mosul from the grip of ISIS terrorist group.

"We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul," he added, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8091/Government-forces-seize-control-of-Ashur-Hotel-in-Mosul-s-right-bank

[tigergorzow]

Photos: IMIS militias detain civilians in Mosul's right bank

March 13 2017 01:55 PM

IMIS militias

 

Photos were recently obtained by The Baghdad Post showing Iraqi civilians who fled the fierce fighting in Mosul to the southern areas and detained by Iranian Militias in Iraq and Syria (IMIS) under allegations of security checks.


The photos showed hundreds of civilians, most of them children, elderly people and persons with special needs also detained.


IMIS militants were reported to have assaulted about 22 civilians who opposed their detention, the sources added.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) had reported that IMIS has recruited three children from Debka camp in south eastern Mosul, about 40 KM southern Erbil.


Recruiting under 18 children to participate in the ongoing fighting violates the international Human Rights law, HRW said, noting that IMIS militias must abide by the international law which bars any kind of torture and humiliation to detained people.

Iraq is considered a part of international agreements that bars torture under any exceptional circumstances even emergency or urgent conditions. Officials who are responsible for such violations must be brought to Justice, HRW demanded.




On November 2016, US-led coalition-backed Iraqi forces launched a wide-range operation to retake Mosul city, the second biggest city of Iraq, from ISIS terrorists and announced the liberation of the left bank .

On February 19 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced  that Iraqi forces will launch another operation to retake the right bank.

within a span of the last week, Mosul's right bank witnessed advances for Iraqi security while operations still ongoing to fully liberate the city.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8067/Photos-IMIS-militias-detain-civilians-in-Mosul-s-right-bank

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Troops Liberate Naft Neighbourhood in West Mosul

 

Basnews English

13/03/2017 - 12:13

Iraq

 

MOSUL — Nineveh Operations Command declared on Monday full control over Naft neighbourhood in west Mosul near Old Mosul area in which fierce clashes are ongoing between the Iraqi troops and the Islamic State (IS) militants.

Abdul-Amir Yarallah, who leads the Nineveh Operations, stated "the counter-terrorism forces managed to free Naft neighbourhood and they raised the Iraqi flag on its buildings."

Naft district is located in the center of west Mosul where the Iraqi forces are engaged in the battle against the militant group.

The elite forces from the counter terrorism forces trained by the US personnel have also stormed the Dawr al-Mwazafeen neighbourhood, Yarallah said.

The commander added that the Iraqi forces have managed to liberate 60 percent of the densely populated western part of Mosul.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336113

[tigergorzow]

Peshmerga Chemical Defense Unit Concludes Training

The Iraqi defense ministry supervised the training

Basnews English

13/03/2017 - 14:17

Kurdistan

 

 

 

 

ERBIL — Peshmerga Chemical Defense Unit on Sunday wrapped up a three-month training course on protection against chemical weapons.

Islam Chali, chief of the Board to Combat Chemical Weapons (BCCW) in the Ministry of Peshmerga, stated that the Chemical Defense Unit of Peshmerga finished on Sunday a three-month training course which started on October 14, 2016.

The training included self-protection against chemical weapons, using the chemical detection devices, defusing chemical bombs and clearing the remnants of chemical weapons on the battlefields by special tools, Chali said.

The training sessions were overseen by two officers and delivered by four trainers from the Iraqi defense ministry, he added.

Previously a team of 15 Peshmerga received a two-week drill in Germany on the methods of protection against chemical weapons and gases, defusing chemical bombs and preventing the enemy from manufacturing chemical bombs.

The BCCW was founded last month, after it was proved that the Islamic State (IS) militants have used several times chemical weapons against the Peshmerga forces.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/336142

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi forces seize New Mosul District as ISIL’s defenses collapse

By

Leith Fadel

-

13/03/2017

 

BEIRUT, LEBANON (6:50 P.M.) – The Iraqi Armed Forces are rapidly advancing inside the western sector of Mosul, liberating large parts of the city from the Islamic State (ISIS) terror organization.

According to Iraqi activists, the army and federal police liberated the New Mosul District on Monday afternoon, forcing the remaining Islamic State terrorists to retreat northwest of this area.

Following the liberation of the New Mosul District, the Iraqi Armed Forces seized the Al-Naft district, leaving scores of militants dead in the process.

Since launching their latest phase of the Mosul offensive, the Iraqi Armed Forces have liberated more than 1/3 of the city, the Ministry of Defense claimed on Sunday.

 

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-forces-seize-new-mosul-district-isils-defenses-collapse/

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi court sentences Islamic State hacker to death in Baghdad

by Loaa Adel Mar 13, 2017, 8:45 pm

Whatsapp

 

Representational photo.

 

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Central Criminal Court in Baghdad on Monday sentenced a hacker working in the so-called ‘digital army of caliphate’ of the Islamic State group to death, Sky Press reported on Monday.

Spokesman for the Supreme Judicial Council, Abdel Satar Berkadar said that the Central Criminal Court reviewed a lawsuit of a hacker working in the Islamic State Hacking Division (digital army of caliphate) that belongs to the Islamic State terrorist group.

The accused, in cooperation with partners from Arab countries, was hacking several important websites, Berkadar added. The evidences were sufficient to sentence him to death according the counter-terrorism law.

Islamic State Hacking Division refers to a self-identifying group as the digital army for Islamic State. It had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in late 2014.

http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/iraqi-court-sentences-islamic-state-hacker-death-baghdad/