Nine Islamic State members killed by suicide bomber in western Mosul

Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Nine Islamic State militants were killed Tuesday when a suicide bomber attacked a gathering of group fighters in western Mosul, a security source was quoted saying.

The attacker targeted the militants while staying at a restaurant at Islamic State’s stronghold town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Almaalomah website quoted the source saying.

Islamic State militants have been losing personnel and ground since Iraqi government forces, backed a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary troops, launched an offensive in October to retake the city. Forces recaptured the eastern side of the city in January and commanders said they currently control 70 percent of the western region.

Occasional reports have been made about anonymous attacks targeting IS members inside and outside Mosul.

Earlier on Tuesday, an Islamic State militant in charge of one of the group’s defense lines was killed by a sniper in the vicinity of Tal Afar town, west of Mosul, a local source in Nineveh province said.

Speaking to AlSumaria News on Tuesday, the source said, “IS official, called Abu Yusuf, in charge of one of the group’s important defense lines in the vicinity of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, was killed by a sniper shot coming from the side of a checkpoint of the paramilitary troops.”

“Abu Yusuf is one of the main leaders of IS in Tal Afar. He was nominated for the position of the military emir,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.