Federal Police: 34 militants, including leader, killed in western Mosul district
A sniper of the Iraqi Federal Police takes his position at a destroyed builiding near Islamic State fighters’ positions at Bab al Jadid district in the old city of Mosul, Iraq, March 27, 2017. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
In a statement aired on state TV, Lt.Gen. Shaker Jawdat said, “Federal Police troops have controlled 75 percent of al-Zanjili district and become very close to Bab Sanjar region in the Old City.”
“Operations in Zanjili left 34 militants, including the leader Abi Baraa al-Tounsi, in charge of explosives manufacturing workshops in the Old City, killed and four booby-trapped vehicles, that attempted targeting the passageways of the displaced, destroyed,” he added.
In related news, intelligence sources from Mosul said on Wednesday that the militants looted and burnt houses of the displaced civilians as well as their properties and cars at IS-held regions. Moreover, a source said three Federal Police personnel were shot dead by IS snipers in Zanjili.
Speaking to Shafaq News, the sources added that IS members booby-trapped houses of the civilians who fled toward security troops in al-Shifa district. They stole their properties and cars to block the streets and blow them to hamper advance of the troops.
Meanwhile, observers said the group has realized its losses caused by the war waged against Iraqi troops. Suffering shortage in personnel, the group resorted to hindering the troops through blocking streets with vehicles and denying civilians access to use them as human shields.
On Monday, Federal Police declared troops aimed again at the strategic Old City from the southern entrances, reopening an old front after they have been sweeping through northwestern neighborhoods over the past few weeks in a way to invade the strategic Old City.
The eastern side of Mosul was retaken in January after three months of battles. Another major offensive was launched in February to recapture the western flank of the city.