Iraqi troops recapture half of biggest western Mosul district

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi troops have gained control on part of the biggest west Mosul district and killed a number of Islamic State militants in an airstrike.

In statements on Friday, the War Media Cell quoted the Nineveh Operations Commander, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, as saying that the 9th armored division retaken the northern part of 17 Tamuz (July 17) in the western side of Mosul.

In other statements, WMC said dozens of IS fighters were killed in airstrikes in western Mosul.

Iraqi fighter jets launched several airstrikes that destroyed booby-trapping workshop and vehicles and killed dozens of militants on Rifaie district.

“An IS headquarter and booby-trapping workshop were destroyed, while dozens of militants were killed on al-Zanjili district,” the statement added.

Iraqi forces have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past two weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City.

More than 16,000 IS members were killed since beginning of operations in Mosul, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool, the military spokesperson, said in a press conference on Tuesday declaring that 89.5 percent of western Mosul was liberated with only a few districts remaining under the militants’ control.

Eastern Mosul was liberated in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to retake the western side.

Source:iraqinews.com