Iraqi government soldiers recapture last Daesh pockets in western Mosul

A member of the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) seated on the top of an advancing Humvee raises the victory gesture while advancing in the Old City of Mosul on June 30, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Iraqi government forces have recaptured more of the last few remaining areas in western Mosul’s Old City as the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group is on its last breath in the Arab country.

Commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah stated on Saturday that Iraqi Federal Police forces had wrested complete control over Bab al-Hadid neighborhood and Wednesday market, Arabic-language al-Sumaria television network reported.

The senior Iraqi military commander noted that security personnel had recaptured the Iron Bridge in western Mosul as well.

Yarallah went on to say that Federal Police forces and members of the Interior Ministry's elite rapid response units had managed to liberate al-Shifa district, Ibn Sina teaching hospital as well as its blood bank and radiotherapy ward.

‘Daesh abducts nearly 1000 to use them as human shields’

Meanwhile, a local source, requesting anonymity, told the Arabic service of Russia’s Sputnik news agency that Daesh terrorists have abducted hundreds of civilians in Iraq’s oil-rich northern province of Kirkuk to use them as human shields in the wake of government forces’ advances.

This file photo shows members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in an undisclosed location in Iraq.

The source added that the Takfiris have rounded up some 900 people in Hawijah district over the past few days, and transported them to unknown locations.

Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name, Hashd al-Sha’abi, have made sweeping gains against Daesh since launching the Mosul operation on October 17, 2016.

The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19. Iraqi authorities expect the battle to end within the next few days as the remaining Daesh elements are bottled up in a few districts of the Old City.

Displaced people, who fled their homes, are pictured in the Old City of Mosul, Iraq, on June 30, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

An estimated 862,000 people have been displaced from Mosul ever since the battle to retake the city began nine months ago. A total of 195,000 civilians have also returned, mainly to the liberated areas of eastern Mosul.