Battle for Mosul Day 26:

Nealy 150 Villages Liberated by Iraqi Forces Since Start of Operation

Rasa - Iraq's joint military forces have recaptured 140 villages from the ISIL in areas near the city of Mosul in Nineveh province since September 17, military officials announced on Saturday.

News ID: 424991

Date: 12 November 2016 - 22:27

RNA - Iraqi army in a statement on Saturday announced that the country's joint military forces have seized back tens of villages since the start of the Mosul liberation operation less than a month ago.

"Iraq's joint military forces have seized back 140 villages from the ISIL in areas near the city of Mosul in Nineveh province since the offensive started," the army's statement said.

The statement noted that a large number of bomb-laden vehicles of the ISIL have also been destroyed in the same region on the Western side of Mosul in the last past 25 days.

Commander: 200 ISIL Terrorists Killed by Iraq's Ali Akbar Volunteer Forces Near Mosul

Commander of Iraq's Ali Akbar Brigade from (Hashd al-Shaabi) volunteer forces Ali al-Hamdani reported that a large number of ISIL terrorists have been killed in fierce clashes with his forces.

"A sum of 200 ISIL terrorists have been killed by the Ali Akbar Brigade during the Mosul military operations," al-Hamdani said on Saturday.

Iraqi Army Enters Key District in Northeastern Mosul

Battlefield sources disclosed that Iraq's joint military forces have entered the strategic district of al-Tahrir in the Northeastern part of Mosul after fierce clashes with the ISIL terrorists.

"Tough street battle is currently underway between the Iraqi government forces and the terrorists in al-Tahrir district," the sources said.

At least 17 ISIL terrorists were killed in heavy fighting with Iraq's joint military forces in battle over al-Tahrir district.

The Mosul liberation operation resumed on Friday after it was halted for few days.

Iraqi Forces Win Back 10 Mosul Districts on Western Bank of Tigris River

Commander of the Golden Brigade of Iraq's Counterterrorism Department Major General Ma'an al-Sa'adi announced that the country's joint military forces have seized back 10 districts in the city of Mosul on the Western bank of the Tigris River.

"The Iraqi forces have managed to win full control of 10 from the total number of 56 districts of Mosul city from the ISIL terrorists," the Arabic-language media quoted General al-Sa'adi as saying on Saturday.

The senior Iraqi commander, meantime, said that the Iraqi forces are now in full control of two-thirds of al-Arbajiyah and half of Qadsiyah strategic districts, adding, "The offensive continues to take full control of the two key districts."

Meantime, Commander of Iraq's Counterterrorism Department Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi announced that the Iraqi forces have arrested 60 ISIL terrorists during recent clashes with them.

"A sum of 60 ISIL terrorists had hidden among people, but they were identified and arrested," he said.

The official media page of the Iraqi army declared on Friday that the army had entered the strategic district of Qadsiyah after fierce battle with the ISIL terrorists.

"Iraqi forces entered the district from its Eastern corridor after launching a surprise assault this morning," Massdar quoted army's media page as saying.

Senior Commander: Regions Close to Mosul City Seized Back, ISIL Lays Mines in Vast Areas

A senior commander of Iraq's Counterterrorism Department announced that a number of regions close to Mosul have been seized back to help the country's joint military forces to eventually take full control of the Center of Nineveh province.

"The regions close to Mosul have been besieged by the Iraqi forces to pave the way for winning back the city," Commander of Golden Brigade affiliated to Iraqi Counterterrorism Department Major General Ma'an al-Sa'adi told FNA on Saturday.

He also noted that the Iraqi army units are preparing for defusing the mines planted by the ISIL in the surrounding areas of Mosul city.

"The ISIL has massively laid mines in different districts of the Mosul to prevent the Iraqi forces' advances towards the city center," al-Sa'adi added.

250 ISIL Terrorists Killed East of Mosul, ISIL Losing Control

A senior Iraqi commander said over 200 ISIL terrorists have been killed in clashes with Iraq's joint military forces in the Eastern flank of Mosul, and underlined that the ISIL has lost control over the region.

"Around 250 ISIL terrorists have been killed by Iraq's counterterrorism forces in the Eastern side of Mosul," Major General Abdul Wahhab al-Saedi told FNA on Saturday.

The Iraqi commander reiterated that the ISIL has lost control of its affairs in Mosul.

"Iraq's joint military forces have seized back a large number of villages in Eastern Mosul and they are advancing further there," he added.

Commander: Iraqi Army Wins Backs Key Regions in Mosul's Western Flank

Commander of Iraq's Counterterrorism Department Lieutenant General Abdul Ghani al-Assadi announced that the country's joint military forces have seized back several strategic regions in the Western flank of Mosul.

"We have liberated important regions on the Western side of Mosul and will fully take control of the region in the coming days," the Arabic-language media quoted al-Assadi as saying.

He reiterated that whatever has remained to be seized back is in the fire-range of Iraq's joint military forces and winning them back is very easy.

"The war in al-Qaddessiya region and before that the clashes in al-Zahra region proved to us that the ISIL has lost its capability to confront us,"al-Assadi added.

The commander thanked the Iraqi people for cooperating with the military forces and providing them with precise intelligence about ISIL's movements and their whereabouts.

"The Iraqi army currently controls at least ten districts in Mosul's Eastern sector," the army added.

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