Iraqi forces capture areas in center of W. Mosul

By Ahmed Qassim and Serhad Shaker

NINEVEH, Iraq (AA) – Iraqi forces have captured areas in the center of western Mosul as part of a large-scale offensive to drive Daesh terrorist group from the northern city, according to a local police officer.
Maj. Abdul-Ghani al-Maadedi said Iraqi forces seized control of the Corniche Street and Al-Souq al-Tugari district in the center of western Mosul after deadly clashes with Daesh militants.

"Our forces managed to thwart two suicide bombings aimed to prevent our forces from advancing in the area,” he told Anadolu Agency on Sunday.

Al-Maadedi said the security situation in the area was still unstable.

“Daesh could launch attacks [against our forces] at any moment,” he said.

Colonel Ahmed al-Jabouri of the Nineveh Operations Command said the crowdedness in the center of western Mosul adds to the difficulty facing Iraqi forces in the area.

“This makes it difficult for the Iraqi forces to use fire when they come under attack,” he said.

He said Iraqi forces will start clearing the army-captured areas in western Mosul.

“We will also wait for military reinforcements before storming the narrow alleys with a view to clearing them from Daesh militants,” he said.

In mid-February, Iraqi forces -- backed by a U.S.-led air coalition -- began fresh operations aimed at dislodging Daesh terrorists from western Mosul.

The offensive comes as part of a wider campaign launched last October to retake the city, which Daesh overran -- along with much of northern and western Iraq -- in mid-2014.