Iraqi Popular Forces Advance in Rebel-Held Areas South of Mosul
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, managed to advance on the southern outskirts of the embattled city of Mosul, liberating several areas from the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group.
The popular forces, in a major operation, liberated three villages near al-Hadher city south of Mosul from Daesh terrorists, the Arabic-language al-Forat news agency reported.
The PMU forces launched the massive operation on Tuesday on three fronts to liberate al-Hadher and its surrounding villages from the terrorists.
The Daesh militants are currently under a heavy siege by the popular forces, according to the report.
Mosul, the largest city in northern Iraq, was captured by Daesh in mid-2014, but government forces have retaken most of it, including the half that lies east of the Tigris River.
The Iraqi military gained additional ground on Tuesday, dislodging the militants from Hay al-Tanak, one of Mosul's largest districts by area, on the western edge of the city.
The Iraqi military estimates the number of Daesh terrorists who remain in Mosul at 200 to 300, mostly foreigners, compared with about 6,000 when the offensive started.
