Iraqi police advance to south of central Mosul’s Old City: commander

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Federal Police and Rapid Response troops are advancing toward the south of central Mosul’s Old City, said Federal Police commander Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat on Monday.

In a statement, Jawdat said “Federal Police troops are continuing their advance toward the southwest axis of central Mosul’s Old City.

The troops, according to Jawdat, headed toward its targets at Qadib al-Ban and Al-Farouq districts in central Mosul.

Mosul is the Islamic State’s last stronghold in Iraq. Eastern Mosul was recaptured from IS in January. The forces recently regained control over strategic areas in the western region after a US-backed offensive was launched in October. A new offensive started in February to retake the west. The government troops have recently pushed deeper into the Old City, a densely-populated and -structured area which military officials view as central to the desired victory over IS militants.

Battles in the west are believed to be much more difficult due to the density of residential areas and the high number of civilians who the commanders believe are used as human shields by IS members.

IS lost control on most of the cities it captured in northern and western Iraq in 2014 and 2015.