Iraqi forces attack last Daesh pockets in Mosul

By Ahmed Qassem and Serhad Shakir

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) – Iraqi forces on Monday attacked four small Daesh pockets in the Old City of Mosul, according to a local police officer.

Rapid Response officer Mohamed al-Oqaily said anti-terrorism forces were engaged in fierce clashes with Daesh militants in al-Qulayaat and al-Shahwan districts in western Mosul.

“There are between 30 to 50 militants holed out in these areas,” he told Anadolu Agency.

According to al-Oqaily, 13 Daesh militants were killed in the two areas since late Sunday.

On Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi visited Mosul to celebrate the defeat of Daesh terrorist group in the northern city.

Mosul was captured by Daesh along vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq in 2014.

Since October, the Iraqi army, backed by a U.S.-led air coalition, has been battling to dislodge Daesh from Mosul, the terrorist group’s last stronghold in northern Iraq.