CTS Commander:

Iraq to Fully Dispel ISIL Terrorists from West Mosul in Less than One Month

Rasa - Commander of Iraqi Army's Counter Terrorism Service vowed to fully eject ISIL terrorist from the Western Mosul within a month as its forces engage the terrorists in fierce urban combat in the densely populated terrain.

News ID: 428058

Date: 10 March 2017 - 21:32

RNA - “Despite the tough fighting… we are moving ahead in persistence to finish the battle for the western side within a month,” the head of the elite Counter Terrorism Service, lieutenant general Talib Shaghati said, Al Waght reported.

The Iraqi Army operation to retake the Eastern bank Mosul, launched in mid-October with support from local allied voluntary forces, took more than three months. The offensive to recapture west Mosul got underway less than three weeks ago.

Earlier this week, the commander in the Iraqi Army’s Counter-Terrorism Force said that over 60% of western Mosul has been liberated from ISIL terrorists.

The commander, Abdul-Ghani al-Assadi, announced that districts like Wadi Hajar, al-Sumoud, al-Maamoun, Tal al-Rayyan, al-Tayaran and Josaq are all back in control of the Iraqi government.

In addition, major government buildings such as the courthouse, central bank and police department, as well as the the Turkish consulate building, all just on the outskirts of the Old City, have all come back into the control of the Iraqi government. Last month, Iraqi security forces also liberated the city's airport and a nearby military base which were previously occupied by ISIL.

Mosul is by far the largest Iraqi t city which ISIL terrorist group has held but has been losing ground following intensified operations by the Iraqi army and local allies.

It was from the Mosul old city’s grand al-Nuri Mosque that ISIL ringleader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared his “caliphate” nearly three years ago.

Baghdadi, an Iraqi whose real name is Ibrahim al-Samarrai, has fled and left some of his henchmen to fight in the city. A few days ago, al-Baghdadi acknowledged the group's defeat in Iraq in a 'farewell speech' and ordered his non-Arab fighters to either return to their countries or detonate themselves.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the population to stay in their homes, at the same time urging humanitarian organizations and government agencies to step up efforts to help the tens of thousands who fled the city.

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