Militias say killed 10 Islamic State militants west of Mosul

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Shia militias fighting Islamic State militants with the Iraqi government said Monday they killed 10  militants on Monday in western Mosul as government forces became much closer to recapture the eastern region of the city.

Al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) said via their media service that the militias foiled an attack by IS combatants and rendered two of their vehicles inoperational at the region of Adaya.

Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, a conglomerate of mainly Shia militias, have been actively engaged in the government campaign running since mid October to recapture Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, from Islamic State militants who had occupied the city in 2014.

In November, al-Hashd recaptured a strategic airport near the town of Tal Afar, an outstanding IS stronghold west of Mosul, saying that the victory was a major step towards isolating the extremist group from Iraq and from its strongholds in Syria.

Meanwhile, joint government forces, backed by fighter jets and advisers from a US-led international military coalition, have become closer to recapturing the eastern section of Mosul, reaching on Sunday the eastern bank of the Tigris River, which cuts through the city.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi predicted in December to retake Mosul within two months.