Iraq army, Peshmerga forces start closing in on Mosul
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Iraqi government forces are seen during an operation in Fallujah’s southern Shuhada neighborhood to retake the area from Takfiri Daesh terrorists, June 15, 2016. (Photo by AFP)
The Iraqi military and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have reportedly launched operations to tighten the noose around the Takfiri Daesh terrorists in their stronghold of Mosul, as part of larger-scale attempts to fully liberate the northern Iraqi city.
According to Press TV, on Wednesday, the Iraqi government forces and their allies started a planned and multi-pronged offensive to first encircle, and ultimately drive out Daesh members from Mosul, which is located some 400 kilometers (250 miles) north of the capital, Baghdad.
There are reports that around 6,000 Peshmerga fighters are participating in the operation alongside regular Iraqi military forces.
Mosul fell to Daesh early in the summer of 2014.
An offensive launched in 2015 to retake Mosul came to a halt because Ramadi, another Iraqi city, fell to Daesh back then. Ramadi was liberated later, in December 2015, and operations to retake Mosul are now being relaunched.
The army has said the terrorists have planted hundreds of roadside bombs and booby traps along main roads leading in and out of the city.
The Popular Mobilization units have announced that they will join the operation by the Iraqi army to liberate Mosul. The force, formed after the rise of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, has already helped the army liberate several militant-held areas.
ME
