ISIS Captures, Executes Nine Iraqi Officers
Islamic State (ISIS) militants captured an Iraqi police colonel and eight other officers after they ran out of ammunition during fierce clashes in western Mosul, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said. The incident happened as rapid response forces closed in on the militants in the Old City and other districts.
The policemen were captured in the Bab al-Jadid neighborhood where ISIS was able to prevent Iraqi forces from advancing into its final stronghold in the key city. Authorities later said the officers had been killed and the government is trying to recover the bodies, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Iraqi forces advanced 100 meters along the riverbank and 200 meters in Bab al-Bayd area where it killed 36 militants and destroyed 13 car bombs. A residential complex near Badush factory in north Mosul had also been liberated from the terror group.
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Attention is now focused on the historic Grand Nuri al-Kabir Mosque, which is close to being recovered. The mosque is an important target being the site where ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the establishment of an "Islamic Caliphate" after his forces seized swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria in 2014.
The campaign to liberate Iraq's second city began in October 2016. The eastern side of the city on the Tigris river was secured in January. Operation in the western districts is harder due to the narrow alleyways and density of the civilian population, according to Iraqi News.
Government troops have made significant progress by recapturing vital facilities like the airport and army base. The battle is expected to last several more weeks as coalition forces rely on helicopter gunships without advancing on the ground. Bad weather over the past few days has also added to their difficulties.
Baghdadi and other ISIS leaders have fled Mosul and their whereabouts are unknown, leaving their members to defend the western side with sniper and mortar fire as well as suicide cars rigged with explosives. It is estimated that 2,000 ISIS fighters remain in that area.
