Iraqi Forces Seize 800 Square Kilometers of Land around Mosul


Iraqi Forces Seize 800 Square Kilometers of Land around Mosul

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraqi forces have so far seized 800 square kilometers of land around the city of Mosul in a push to drive out Daesh (also ISIL and ISIS) terrorists from their last stronghold in the Arab country.

Iraqi security troops managed to seize control of 15 villages near the Tigris River southwest of Mosul on Tuesday, according to a statement released by Iraq’s Ministry of Defense, Lebanon’s al-Ahed news website reported.

Large groups of the terrorists were killed or captured in the process of the clashes, it added.

According to the latest reports, more than 58 villages have been freed and nearly 675 militants have been killed in Mosul's fighting so far. 

The Iraqi army launched a major offensive on October 16 aimed at wresting Mosul from the hands of Daesh.

“The time has come for the greatest victory,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said on state TV at the time. “I announce the start of Liberating Mosul Operation, by the will of Iraqis, and after depending on Allah.”

Al-Abadi said that Daesh would be “punished” for its crimes and that the province's cities and villages will be rebuilt.

Iraq has been facing the growing threat of terrorism, mainly posed by the Daesh terrorist group.

Daesh militants made swift advances in much of northern and western Iraq over the summer of 2014, after capturing large swaths of northern Syria.

However, a combination of concentrated attacks by the Iraqi military and the volunteer forces, who rushed to take arms after top Iraqi cleric Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for fight against the militants, blunted the edge of Daesh offensive.

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