Iraqi forces reach center of key town near Mosul

Iraqi military and volunteer forces have reached the center of a strategic town near the Daesh stronghold of Mosul.

According to the reports, Iraqi army troops and pro-government volunteers on Thursday seized the center of Shirqat, a key town located 100 km south of Mosul, a source with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command in Salahuddin Province said.

The Arabic-language al-Sumeria television said Iraqi troops had taken control of the governor’s office in the town and hoisted the Iraqi flag over the building.

The network also said the town had been “liberated.” It seems, however, that areas of the town still remain to be purged of the terrorists.

Three army personnel were purportedly killed during clashes with Daesh terrorists in the town.

Army troops and allied fighters had earlier managed to free villages surrounding Shirqat.

Mosul, which is the second largest city in Iraq, has been under the Daesh control for more than two years.

Iraqi security forces have been closing in on the city in recent operations to retake it.

SS