Two IS mayors killed in army operations in western Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army forces killed two Islamic State area governors during operations in western Mosul on Sunday, an officer reported as operations continue to recapture the region from militants.

BasNews quoted Maj. Ali Mohsen, from the Iraqi army, saying the elite Counter-Terrorism Forces killed Kanaan Breis, IS’s governor for Tal Afar, and Ghanem al-Jeheishi, IS’s governor of al-Baaj region. Mohsen said the pair was killed in separate offensives. He did not mention their nationality, but numerous foreign members of the group have been killed since operations launched for western Mosul in February.

Mohsen also added that the forces invaded IS havens in Wadi Akab region and destroyed five booby-trapped vehicles.

Iraqi government forces, backed by paramilitary troops and a U.S.-led coalition, recaptured eastern Mosul from IS in January after three months of fighting, and launched another offensive mid February to retake the western region.

Troops have been struggling to fully retake central Mosul’s Old City, a densely-populated and structured area which military generals view as vital for victory over IS in that region.

Maj. Gen. Najm al-Jubouri, head of the Joint Operations Command’s Mosul operations, said in statements on Wednesday that his troops became in control over 90 percent of the “western axis”, and continue to advance in central Mosul.