Iraqi troops liberates Qadib al-Ban neighborhood, western Mosul
Iraqi soldiers gather to go battle against Islamic State militants south of Mosul , Iraq, June 15, 2016. REUTERS/Stringer
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Commander of We Are Coming, Nineveh Operations Command, Lieutenant General Abdel Amir Yarallah, has declared liberating Qadib al-Ban district, located west of Mosul, Shafaq News reported.
Federal Police and Rapid Response Forces, according to Yarallah, freed the district from IS and raised the Iraqi flag above the buildings.
Iraqi troops are now making their way toward al-Zangeli neighborhood.
Mosul is the Islamic State’s strongest 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.
Battles in the west are believed to be much more difficult due to the density of residential areas and the high number of civilians who the commanders believe are used as human shields by IS members.
IS lost control on most of the cities it captured in northern and western Iraq in 2014 and 2015.