Iraqi warplanes foil suicide bomber’s attack on western Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi army fighter jets foiled a suicide attack that would target security forces at a village in western Mosul on Thursday, an air force member was quoted saying.

Abdel-Qader al-Sahwwaf told Anadolu Agency that warplanes destroyed a boobytrapped armored vehicle driven by an Islamic State member at Harraj village, Hatra (80 km west of Mosul).

The attacker was aiming at Counter-Terrorism Service and Rapid Response forces, Shawwaf said, adding that the attack was foiled when U.S. reconnaissance aeroplanes detected the vehicle and informed the Iraqi air force command.

Fighter jets pounded the vehicle with three rockets, killing all aboard.

Iraqi forces are currently working to clear the desert area between Nineveh, Anbar and Salahuddin from Islamic State vestiges.

The forces declared the recapture of Mosul from the militants early July, ending more than eight months of battles for IS’s former capital. Since then, troops have combed the city for potential dormant militancy cells, arrested suspects and fought off occasional deadly attacks by the group.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the end of IS’s territorial influence earlier this month, but said final victory would be declared after desert areas are thoroughly purged from militants.