Federal Police seize IS underground camp, west of Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) The Iraqi Federal Police have gained control on a huge Islamic State military base in Mosul.

In a statement, Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, chief of Federal Police, said the troops were able to control a training center known as ‘Abu Massoud camp’ at al-Bouseif village, west of Mosul.

MFederal police members aim their weapons at a man, whom they thought was a member of Islamic State but later turned out to be mentally handicapped, during a battle with Islamic State fighters at Bab al Beed district in the old city of MosulREUTERS/Youssef Boudlal

The camp, according to Jawdat, is located 10 meters under the ground on area of 1,500 meters.

Moreover, the troops gained full control on al-Sarjkhana street reaching to Tigris River, the source added.

Special forces of the Federal Police controlled al-Shawaf building in al-Nujeifi region, in the Old City, according to Jawdat. Snipers are deployed on the top of the building to secure the troops in the region.

Fifteen IS militants were killed, he added.

On Wednesday, Jawdat declared death of around sixty Islamic State militants, including snipers, while combing Mosul’s Old City regions.

Four regions including al-Nujeifi, al-Sarai and parts of Lakash and Bab Jadid were still held by IS, Jawdat declared earlier this week. Once liberated, Federal Police will announce accomplishing its goals there.

Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, have been fighting against IS fighters since mid October. The eastern side of Mosul was recaptured in January after three months of battles. Another offensive was launched in February to retake the western flank of the city. Last week, troops took over the Old City’s Nuri al-Kabir Mosque where IS first declared its self-styled “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Source:iraqinews.com