Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Baghdad

Parliament declares Mosul as disaster zone

 Parliament declares Mosul as disaster zone

Iraqi firefighters and civilians carry bodies of victims killed in a car bomb at a commercial area in Karada neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. (AP)

Iraqi firefighters and civilians carry bodies of victims killed in a car bomb at a commercial area in Karada neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. (AP)
Iraqi firefighters and civilians carry bodies of victims killed in a car bomb at a commercial area in Karada neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq. (AP)

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Parliament Speaker Selim al-Jabouri has declared on Tuesday the western side of Mosul as a disaster zone, Shafaq News reported.

On Sunday, Nineveh provincial council voted yes on declaring the whole city a disaster zone, in the wake of killing of hundreds of civilians by airstrikes launched by the US-led coalition.

During the session held on Tuesday, Jabouri said that the western part of Mosul has become a disaster zone.

Jabouri also urged considering victims of the residential neighborhood of Mosul al-Jadidah massacre as ‘martyrs’ granting their relatives all the requirements based on this, in addition to treatment of the wounded.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Irfan al-Hayali addressed the parliament saying that the battles at western Mosul are ongoing, expressing will to liberate all the other regions.

Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji said the battles in Mosul are considered the most difficult ones due to presence of civilians there.

Mosul is considered the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Iraq. Eastern Mosul was recaptured from IS in January, after a US-backed offensive was launched in October. A new offensive started in February to retake the west. The government troops have recently pushed deeper into the Old City, a densely-populated and -structured area.

Last week, more than 200 civilians were killed as fighter jets from the U.S.-led international coalition bombarded IS locations in Mosul al Jadida district.

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