Military media says five villages liberated, west of Mosul
Iraqi army armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) cross as military pontoon bridge one the way to the frontline in western Mosul, Iraq June 7, 2017. Picture taken June 7, 2017. REUTERS/Erik De Castro
In a statement on Monday, Lt. Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, head of Nineveh Operations Command, said, troops liberated villages of Sheikh Qurret al-Sufla,Tishet al-Atshana, al-Shuhadaa, al-Aziziya and al-Mawali, west of Atshana mountains, in east of Mahlabiya, located west of Mosul.
On Sunday, the Joint Operations Command said it totally liberated Zanjili’s southern section and invaded the Old City from Bab Sinjar, a northern entrance, after recapturing Zanjili.
Earlier on Saturday, the Iraqi government forces recaptured Zanjili district in western Mosul, leaving only one district of al-Shifa in Islamic State’ grip before reaching its strategic stronghold in the Old City neighborhood, which is home to the Grand Nuri Mosque, the place where IS supreme leader proclaimed the group’s rule in Iraq in 2014.
Less than 1000 fighters remaining in the Old City, according to commanders from the Iraqi leadership and the allied U.S.-led coalition.
Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January after three months of fighting, and launched another offensive in mid February to retake the western side of the city.