Federal police take hold of Mosul Old City’s passageways

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Federal Police forces said Wednesday they became in control over internal passageways at western Mosul’s Old City, the latest development as forces struggle to control the Islamic State-held strategic neighborhood.

The forces chief, Lt. Gen. Shaker Jawdat, said the troops tightened control over passageways at the Old City which Islamic State suicide bombers and trapped vehicles would sneak through to target the security forces.

“Daesh (IS) resort to shelling the populated, liberated areas so as to distract our troops, leaving tens of casualties, which requires us to hurry to the rescue,” Jawdat said.

Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January and launched an offensive in February to recapture the western region.Iraqi troops are currently working to retake central Mosul districts from IS militants, specifically eyeing the Old City’s grand mosque where the group’s self-styled “Caliphate” was declared in 2014.

Iraqi commanders view the retaking of the Old City as essential for victory in western Mosul. The narrowly-structured streets of that district, coupled with bad weather and IS reliance on snipers and booby-traps, have forced troops to change tactics over the past few days by halting ground incursions at some stages and resorting to drone strikes and artillery shelling alone.