Iraqi forces seize Islamic State internet towers in Mosul
Iraqi army forces in Mosul. File photo.
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi forces have seized abandoned internet towers belonging to Islamic State extremists in the eastern side of the group’s former base in Iraq: Mosul, Iraqi security reported on Saturday.
The Iraqi Security Media Center said forces ran into a large number of internet towers at al-Intissar neighborhood, which militants had used for communication during their occupation of Mosul.
The seized equipment had been dismantled by the militants before the start of encounters with Iraqi forces. They were found inside a house belonging to one of the militants, according to the center.
Iraq declared victory over Islamic State militants in December 2017, ending a three-year military campaign against the group to retake areas they had occupied to proclaim a self-styled “caliphate”. But the group has carried out several attacks against security and civilians since then.Security authorities regularly declare the arrest of remnant militant cells linked with the group.
Mosul was Islamic State’s capital and base of operations in Iraq. It was from its Grand Nuri Mosque that IS founder, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed the group’s rule. Iraqi forces recaptured the city in July 2017 after an operation that lasted for more than eight months.