Iraqi Officials:

ISIL in Control of Only 12 Square Kilometres in Mosul

Rasa - An Iraqi military spokesman said the ISIL militants currently control a few districts totaling only 12 square kilometers in Western Mosul.

News ID: 429695

Date: 17 May 2017 - 21:58

RNA - Iraqi military officials said the battle for Mosul may be complete before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan on May 26, and the Old City neighborhood is one of the last remaining districts still under control of the ISIL terror group.

Leaflets have been dropped by the coalition forces on the ISIL-held areas declaring near-victory, with warnings not to drive as "the coalition air force and Iraqi military planes will strike any vehicle that moves on the streets of these districts from the evening of May 15 until their liberation, Bas News reported.

The timeline was given by the Iraqi Army Lieutenant General Othman al-Ghanimi regarding the operation’s end last week.

"I say that the rest of Mosul will be liberated before the holy month of Ramadan,” Ghanimi remarked.

The operation to oust ISIL militants from Mosul began in October of the previous year. Eastern side of the city was declared liberated in January. The offensive advanced into the western side in February.

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