The attack, which was claimed by the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group, sowed panic among residents who returned to live in the Tanak and Yarmuk neighborhoods of west Mosul, according to AFP.
A top commander in the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), which sent forces to fight the Daesh gunmen, said the attackers had infiltrated the area by blending in with returning displaced civilians.
“The group came with the displaced and settled in the Tanak district. They regrouped and launched counter-attacks,” Staff Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi told AFP.
“Yarmuk is being searched house to house,” he said, adding that two groups of Daesh attackers were still believed to be in the area, which lies on the western edge of the city.
A CTS medic said the attack had caused several victims but he could not say how many.
“There are martyrs who were killed by Daesh,” the medic said.
He said 15 to 20 terrorists were also killed in the battle.