IS military planning official, six others killed, west of Mosul
Federal police carry their weapons during a battle against Islamic State militants, at the entrance to the city of Dawasa in Mosul, Iraq, March 5, 2017. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani – RTS11ISC
Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Federal Police have announced killing of seven Islamic State foreign members, including the group’s military planning official in western Mosul.
“Police troops killed seven IS foreign militants, including abu Yassin al-Rousi, the group’s official of military planning, in western Mosul,” Lt.Gen.Shaker Jawdat, Federal Police chief, said in statements on Monday.
In related news, Jawdat indicated “opening passageways after clearing them of landmines and explosives to allow passage of civilians out of the Old City.”
Speaking BasNews, Lt. Gen. Ali Mohsen said the militants included three suicide bombers and that they were killed on al-Farouq and al-Meshahda disricts, south of Mosul.
Five civilians were arrested over collaboration with the militants, he added.
On Sunday, the pro-Iraqi government troops of al-Hashd al-Shaabi declared killing IS leader abu Omar al-Aafri in Tal Afar town. Previously on the day, Kurdistan Region’s Directorate of Counter-Terrorism (CTD) said IS’s education department official Ali Reda Mahmoud was killed on Saturday in an airstrike by the international coalition jets in Tal Afar town, western Mosul.
The group has sustained severe losses in personnel and ground since an offensive was launched in mid October to retake Mosul, the second-largest Iraqi city and the militants’ last urban stronghold in the country.
The U.S.-led coalition had estimated the number of remaining IS militants in Mosul by less than 1000.
A major offensive was launched in February by Iraqi troops, backed by the international coalition and paramilitary troops, to retake western Mosul from IS. Eastern Mosul was recaptured in January after three months of battles.