Bomb blast kills 8 civilians in eastern Mosul: sources

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Eight civilians were killed on Monday and five others were wounded, including children, when an explosive device exploded in the security-held eastern side of Mosul.

Qatari news agency QNA quoted security sources saying the device was placed inside a puddle at an alleyway in al-Salam district. It exploded while workers were lifting debris and cleaning the area, the agency added.

Since Iraqi forces recaptured eastern Mosul from Islamic State militants in January, the extremist group launched attacks on civilians and security personnel in that region by drones or militants sent from its western strongholds.

Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul from Islamic State on January 24th after three months of battles, and recently said they became in control of 30 percent of western Mosul since another offensive launched in February. Generals said recently their forces had retaken more than a third of the western side.

Iraqi troops have made remarkable victories in the west by recapturing major government facilities, a military base and the city’s airport, with IS reportedly losing most of its senior leaders and waning in power.

The conflict in Mosul has forced nearly 100.000 civilians to flee homes in the western side, putting the total of refugees displaced in the whole city well beyond 250.000.