Mosuls’ strategic Old City under full Iraqi troops siege: command

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Western Mosul’s Old City district, a strategic Islamic State militants’ bastion, has become entirely encircled by Iraqi government forces, an Iraqi command spokesman said Sunday.

Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, spokesperson of the Joint Operations Command, said in a statement that Federal Police and Rapid Response forces had put the Old City under full siege, cutting IS’s supply routes to that area, which used to extend from neighboring Zanjili and 17 Tamuz districts.

According to Rasoul, troops are on a “very short” distance from the Hadbaa (leaning) Minaret, the landmark structure at the Grand Nuri Mosque where IS first declared the establishment of its rule in Iraq in 2014. He said the area will be cleared from militants soon.

Since Iraqi forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, launched an offensive mid February to retake western Mosul from IS militants, operations have occasionally slowed down around the Old City, an area which Iraqi generals view as pivotal for the awaited victory over IS. Iraqi commanders were quoted saying they were slowing operations and ceasing airstrikes at the area to avoid civilian casualties. Islamic State’s reliance on snipers and suicide attackers, as well as the narrow structure of the Old City’s streets, have also contributed to the slowing pace of security efforts.