Iraqi forces launched a new push last week to drive Daesh from Mosul's west, capturing so far the city's international airport and an adjacent military base. Iraqi authorities declared Mosul's eastern half "fully liberated" from the terrorists in January, three months after launching the operation to take back Iraq's second-largest city.
At dawn Sunday, the Federal Police Commandos Division moved into the Tayaran neighborhood amid fierce clashes, Maj. Gen. Haider al-Maturi told The Associated Press from Baghdad. Al-Maturi said the neighborhood "is now under their full control."
Al-Maturi said Daesh terrorists deployed at least 10 suicide car bombs, but nine of them were blown up before reaching their targets. The 10th killed two policemen and wounded five. Al-Maturi added that his forces arrested two militants - an Iraqi and a foreigner who speaks Russian.
Elsewhere, up to 3,000 people fled from the Mamun neighborhood Sunday morning, according to Iraqi special forces Brig. Gen. Salam Hashed, who oversees a screening center south of Mosul. Hashed said just over 2,500 people fled the previous day.
According to the UN figures, about 750,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in their houses in western Mosul, one of several challenges expected to slow the advance of the Iraqi troops. Another complication is western Mosul's old and narrow streets, which will force Iraqi soldiers to leave the relative safety of their armored vehicles.
Western Mosul is the last significant urban area Daesh holds in Iraq. The city is split roughly in half by the Tigris River.
Mosul fell to Daesh in the summer of 2014, along with large swaths of northern and western Iraq.