RNA - Iraq's military offensive to liberate the city of Mosul from ISIL's control continued on Monday as volunteer forces (Hashd al-Sha'abi) started the third phase of the military operations in areas on the Western side of the ISIL-held city.
Hashd Al-Sha'abi Kicks Off 3rd Phase of Mosul Operation
Iraq's volunteer forces (Hashd al-Sha'abi) started the third phase of the military operations in areas on the Western side of Mosul today, a senior commander announced on Monday.
"The main purpose of the third phase of the military operations in Western Mosul is to help Iraq's joint military forces to take control of the remaining areas," Hashd al-Shaabi Spokesman Ahmad al-Assadi said in a statement on Monday.
He reiterated that another objective of the fresh military campaign in Western Mosul is to cut off the terrorists' supply routes from Mosul to Raqqa.
Al-Assadi said that the Iraqi volunteer forces plan to make further advances towards Tal Afar region after seizing back more lands to the West of Mosul city.
ISIL's Notorious Tajik Commander Killed in Mosul
Abu Abdullah al-Tajiki, one of the notorious ISIL commanders in Iraq, was killed during the Iraqi forces' operations near Mosul, sources close to the terrorist group said.
Radio Freedom quoted sources close to the ISIL as saying that Abu Abdullah was one of the Tajik militants who had fought for the terrorist group in Mosul.
Other sources also said that another Tajik fighter named Hamza Tajiki was among those killed in clashes with the Iraqi army in Mosul.
Tajik officials had earlier expressed deep concerns over the large number of the country's citizens who have joined the ISIL terrorist group in Syria.
More Contradictory Reports Appear on Fate of ISIL Leader Al-Baghdadi
Spokesman of Hashd al-Shaabi (the Iraqi volunteer forces) Ahmad al-Assadi said on Monday that the latest information and intel shows that ISIL Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is still in Iraq, hiding somewhere outside Mosul.
"The terrorist, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is in a region between the town of Tal Afar (some 54km North-West of Mosul) and the town of al-Baaj (157km to the South-West of Mosul)," al-Assadi was quoted as saying by Iraq's al-Ma'louma news agency on Monday.
He also said that the operations of the volunteer forces cover an area 14,000 sq/km around Mosul that includes the towns of al-Hazar, al-Baaj and its surrounding regions towards Tal Afar.
Iraqi Forces Take Control of 25 Percent of Lands East of Mosul
Nineveh Governor Noufel al-Akoub announced that Iraq's joint military forces have seized back one-fourth of ISIL-held territories on the Eastern side of Mosul.
"At least 25 percent of the lands to the East of Mosul are now in control of the Iraqi forces," al-Akoub said.
He also said that Iraq's joint military forces have made considerable advances in the Eastern part of Mosul city as clashes are underway in Adan and al-Bakr districts.
Meantime, Iraq's Federal Police Commander Major general Raed Shaker Judat announced that the ISIL has lost over 1,846 square kilometers of lands in the South, adding that his forces have managed to seize back 94 villages after killing 935 ISIL terrorists during the over month-long operation.
Major General Judat also said that the Iraqi army's Ninth Armored Division and Third Brigade of the First Division of the Iraqi army's Infantry Division have captured most of the lands seized back from the ISIL on the Eastern side of Mosul.
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