Iraqi forces invade Mosul’s Old City, a major target of operations against IS

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi forces stormed Saturday the Old City region in western Mosul, a major target on the combat list as operations continue to drive out Islamic State militants out of the region.

Shafaaq website quoted security sources saying that Counter-Terrorism Forces and the Federal Police invaded Bab al-Toub, the first district of the Old City, from three directions. The CTF also announced it took over al-Resala, another neighborhood, after invading it earlier in the morning.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a recent seminar in Sulaimaniyah province that his security command was avoiding engagement in a major street battle in the Old City given the region’s density.

The Iraqi government launched a major offensive in February to retake western Mosul from Islamic State militants. The forces recaptured the eastern side of the city late January after three months of fighting.

In the western region, Iraqi forces have made remarkable gains, taking over a government complex last week that hosts the governor’s office, a main central bank branch, a police department, a courthouse and other public facilities. The forces had earlier retaken the city’s airport and biggest military camp.

The CTF said last week government forces had become in control over 60 percent of the western side. Generals from the Iraqi side and the allied U.S.-led coalition had estimated six months needed to fully liberate the city which fell to the extremist group in 2014.