15 Islamic State militants killed in coalition airstrikes west of Mosul: ministry
Iraqi fighter jet.
Iraqi jets partaking in the strikes, which targeted Islamic State locations in the strategic town of Tal Afar, also destroyed a booby-trapping workshop and a weaponry cache, according to the ministry.
Iraqi and coalition fighter aircraft have carried out several strikes against IS strongholds in the west of Mosul since government troops announced retaking the eastern section from the group on January 24th.
Islamic State had lost at least 3000 fighters in three months of battles with Iraqi and allied coalition forces since October. It has now been confined to the west but there were several recent attacks by militants who crossed the Tigris River into the east to wage assaults on recaptured areas.
Military officials, preparing for a ground invasion of western Mosul, are predicting tougher battles due to the narrow streets of that area and the high population density.
The United Nations had voiced concerns for the fate of at least 750.000 civilians trapped in western Mosul, and Iraqi government data have put the number of those displaced by the war there at 191.000.