Tuesday 19 March 2024
 
»
 
»
MOSUL BATTLE

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters near the
town of Bashika. EPA/Amel Pain

Iraqi forces advance despite stiff resistance

BAGHDAD, October 21, 2016

Advancing Iraqi-led forces met with stiff resistance on day four of their battle to liberate the city of Mosul from two years of ISIS rule, reports said.

However, they have made sweeping gains, recapturing at least 100 sq km of territory, a CNN report said.

Iraqi Maj Gen Maan Al-Saadi said 200 ISIS fighters were killed as Iraqi forces took the Christian town of Bartella from ISIS militants, the latest territorial win for a coalition of around 100,000 people quickly closing in on Mosul.

ISIL fighters unleashed a wave of vehicle-borne suicide bombers, while leaving a deadly trail of hidden explosive devices.

Iraq's government said on Thursday its soldiers advanced from the south and east, while Kurdish Peshmerga fighters moved in from the north and east on the country's second-largest city, now under control of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as ISIS.

"After we break them in Bartella, everywhere else they will crumble," said Major-General Fadhil Barwari.

ISIL fighters drove at least nine suicide car and truck bombs against the advancing troops, eight of which were destroyed before reaching their targets, while the ninth struck an armoured Humvee, Lieutenant-Colonel Muntadhar Al-Shimmari was quoted as saying by an AP report.




Tags: Iraq | Mosul |

More INTERNATIONAL NEWS Stories

calendarCalendar of Events

Ads