Iraq: 13 killed in clashes near Mosul

By Mohamed Walid and Serhad Shakir

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) – At least 13 people were killed on Wednesday in clashes between Daesh terrorists and pro-government fighters near Mosul in northern Iraq, according to an Iraqi military commander.

The violence broke out after Daesh terrorists sneaked into Hashtar village, southeast of Mosul, Col. Ahmed al-Jabouri told Anadolu Agency.

He said 12 Daesh terrorists and a Sunni fighter were killed in the clashes.

According to al-Jabouri, army forces and tribal fighters, backed by Iraqi warplanes, managed to seize control of the village.

Meanwhile, Iraqi forces captured three suspected Daesh terrorists south of Mosul, police lieutenant Eyad al-Asali said.

Daesh has recently suffered a string of crushing defeats in both Iraq and Syria after overrunning vast swathes of territory in both countries in mid-2014.

Last week, Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji declared that Daesh presence in Iraq has effectively come to an end following the “liberation” of the city of Rawa in the western Anbar province.