Updated: 3 Mosul districts, strategic street recaptured: army, police

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army and police forces have recaptured a strategic street and liberated three more districts in the eastern section of the city of Mosul since late Saturday and through Sunday as operations resume to clear the city from Islamic State militants, an army officer said late Saturday.

Federal police forces said Sunday they became in control over the strategic No.60 Street southeast of Mosul.

“Army forces have managed to liberate the districts of al-Malayeen, al-Kindi and al-Arabi al-Thania after storming them on Friday,” Bas News quoted army major Ali Mohsen as saying. He added that the offensive on the three villages resulted in the killing of 40 IS militants, mostly foreigners.

Iraqi government forces declared on Thursday they were starting a second phase of operations to retake Iraq’s second largest city from militants after a few weeks of recess for resupply and reinforcement. Liberating Mosul, IS last outstanding stronghold in Iraq, could deal a final fatal blow to group’s influence in the country.

Forces have now become in control over more than 40 out of a total of nearly 60 districts of the city’s eastern section, and are hoping to push forward towards the west, where IS still maintain several locations near the borders with Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said yesterday the battle for Mosul was entering a “decisive” stage, and predicted in December that the operations could realize final victory within two months.