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‘UDPATED: Police chief says forces take over western Mosul’s Old Bridge

 ‘UDPATED: Police chief says forces take over western Mosul’s Old Bridge

A government building is pictured during a battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani

A government building is pictured during a battle with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, March 7, 2017. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s Federal Police command said Wednesday that government forces had become in control over a strategic bridge in western Mosul as battles rage on to expel Islamic State militants from that region.

Federal Police chief Shaker Jawdat was quoted saying that the 2nd and 3rd divisions, backed by Rapid Response teams, took over Mosul’s Old Bridge (aka Iron Bridge), which links central Mosul’s Old City with the eastern side, passing above the Tigris River.

Jawdat added that forces continued incursions inside Bab al-Jadid and Bab al-Bid, both districts inside the Old City which police said were recaptured on Tuesday.

The bridge, a vital target in the combat operations for western Mosul, is one of the five bridges connecting both sides of the city. The bridges had been partially damaged by airstrikes to isolate the liberated eastern Mosul from the IS-held west. The Iraqi forces had installed a floating bridge upon starting the offensive on western Mosul last month to allow supplies and backup from the east. If recaptured, the Iron Bridge will be the third to be retaken by Iraqi forces.

“Our troops are making a steady advance towards the Grand Mosque and we are now less than 800 meters from the mosque,” a federal police spokesman said, quoted by Reuters.

Earlier on Wednesday, the army’s Counter-Terrorism Force said 60 percent of western Mosul became under government troops control.

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