Battle for Mosul Day 20:

165 Regions Liberated by Iraqi Forces

Rasa - Iraq's military offensive to liberate the city of Mosul from ISIL militants continued on Saturday with the Joint Military Command of the Iraqi Armed Forces saying that the army and its allies have liberated 165 regions from the control of the ISIL terrorists since the start of the military operation.

News ID: 424823

Date: 05 November 2016 - 23:22

RNA - 165 Regions Liberated by Joint Forces in Battle for Mosul

The Joint Military Command of the Iraqi Armed Forces said on Saturday that the army and its allies have liberated 165 regions from the control of the ISIL terrorists since the start of the military operation to retake the militant-held city of Mosul.

"Since the start of the military campaign to liberate Mosul, a number of 165 regions, villages, districts, neighborhoods, and government facilities in Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Mosul have been retaken from the terrorists control," Iraq's Joint Military Command said in a statement.

The commander of the Iraqi ground forces, Riad Jalal Tawfiq, also noted in remarks published on Saturday that the army forces are preparing for an impending offensive on Mosul's al-Qahira district, which is one the main Northern districts on the Eastern bank of the ISIL stronghold city.

Iraqi Forces Expel ISIL from Six Neighborhoods in Mosul

The Iraqi forces were able to recapture six neighborhoods in Mosul City after hitting ISIL key positions there, forcing the group to retreat towards the city center.

“Subsequent to clashes with ISIL terrorists, our Counter-Terrorism Units liberated the neighborhoods of Malayan, al-Samah, al-Khadraa, Karkukli, al-Quds and Karama,” the Iraqi Army General Command said in a statement, ARA News reported.

In the meantime, clashes continued between the Iraqi forces and ISIL militants in the al-Zahraa District of Mosul city.

Iraqi Army Lays Siege on ISIL in Southern Mosul

Iraqi volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) is recapturing more lands to the West of Mosul as the country's army laid siege on ISIL terrorists South of the city, a senior commander announced on Saturday.

"Hashd al-Shaabi has seized back over 56 villages since the beginning of the Mosul liberation operation," the Arabic-language media quoted Senior Hashd al-Shaabi Commander Javad al-Talibavi as saying on Saturday.

Meantime, he said that the Iraqi army and federal police laid siege on the ISIL terrorists in Hamam al-Alil market to the South of Mosul city.

Iraq's Flags Hoisted on Buildings in Last ISIL Bastion South of Mosul

Iraqi Security forces entered the Central districts of Hamam al-Alil town and hoisted the Iraqi flags on the government building in the last ISIL stronghold South of the city of Mosul, Iraqi police said.

Iraq's Federal Police Chief, Raed Shaker Jowdat said in a statement that his forces have seized back control over three more villages Southwest of Hammam al-Alil.

"Iraqi police forces liberated al-Zaftiyeh, al-Taqtaq, and Sanaeik villages in Southwestern Mosul and an ISIL commander known as Abu Bakir was killed during clashes in the area," the statement said.

Iraqi Official Sees Hype about Al-Baghdadi's Voice Message

Head of the Iraqi Parliament's Security and Defense Committee Hakem al-Zameli said a recently released voice message of ISIL Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is a plot hatched by Turkey's spy agency to give an excuse to Ankara to send troops to the city of Mosul in Nineveh province.

"The Turkish military forces will arrive in Mosul on the pretext of fighting terrorism before the ISIL leaves for Turkey," al-Zameli said.

Hashd Al-Shaabi Takes Full Control of Mosul-Raqqa Roads

Commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces Hadi al-Ameri said volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) have seized full control of the ISIL-controlled roads linking the city of Mosul in Iraq to Raqqa in Syria.

"We have expanded control over the strategic Tal al-Zalat intersection and seized control over vital roads and supply routes, including Tal Afar-al-Mohlabieh-Mosul road," al-Ameri, who is also the Badr Organization Secretary General, said on Saturday.

He noted that volunteer forces have also imposed control over the strategic Tal Abteh to al-Ba'aj road which was the most important route of the ISIL to Syria.

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