Iraqi forces battle Daesh militants in eastern Mosul

By Ahmed Qassim

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) – Iraqi forces are engaged in street battles with Daesh militants in eastern Mosul, an Iraqi police officer said Saturday.

Major Selwan Fawaz said anti-terrorism forces have broken into Adan neighborhood in eastern Mosul on Saturday.

“The forces, however, were met with fierce resistance from Daesh militants in the district,” he told Anadolu Agency.

He said Daesh militants were using bombers and car-bombs in an attempt to hinder Iraqi forces advancing into the area.

“If our forces managed to control the district, we will be able to storm into Daesh-held areas in south-eastern Mosul,” Fawaz said.

Meanwhile, at least 13 militants were reportedly killed when Iraqi forces stormed into a Daesh-held neighborhood in eastern Mosul.

“Our forces have advanced into al-Qadisya district and killed 13 militants there,” army officer Mohamed Abdel-Mahdi told Anadolu Agency.

He said three soldiers were killed in the clashes.

On Oct. 18, the Iraqi army -- backed by U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and local allies on the ground -- launched a wide-ranging operation aimed at retaking Mosul.

Iraq’s second-largest city, Mosul was overrun by Daesh in mid-2014, along with vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

Recent months have seen the Iraqi army and its allies retake much territory from the terrorist group, especially on Mosul’s outskirts and in Iraq’s western Anbar province.