Azernews.Az

By Gunay Hasanova

The Iraqi army for the first time since the start of operations to liberate Mosul has managed to enter the areas located in the Northern part of the city, TASS reported with reference to Al Jazeera.

The Iraqi military forces established control over residential areas Es-Saada and Bawiza, according to the channel.The Iraqi air force managed to destroy several warehouses .

Moreover, from the Eastern part of the city to the center of Mosul are moving Iraqi anti-terrorist unit, supported by armored units. Earlier media reported about the use of militants toxic substances — chlorine gas, and housekeeping. In addition, extremists put the booby traps that operate by a chain reaction.

“Having worked in one place, they can put in action a bomb planted in neighboring districts,” the head of the security Committee in the government of Iraqi Kurdistan masrour Barzani said.

“The battle against the IG in Mosul will be prolonged not only in military terms but in economic and ideological,” Barzani added.

An operation of Iraqi government troops to regain control over Mosul began on October 17. In addition to Iraqi government forces, the operation involves local Peshmerga militia (Kurdish fighters in northern Iraq).

The attack is supported by the international Anti-Terrorism Coalition’s Air Force.

The terrorist organization "Islamic State" considers Mosul as its main stronghold in Iraq.

Being one of the key oil centers of Iraq, the city of Mosul went entirely under the control of the IS terrorists in June 2014. It is the second largest city of Iraq with a population of 1.3 million people. The number of IG militants concentrated in Mosul is more than 6,000 people.

The UN informs that more than 3.4 million people are now displaced in Iraq -- more than half of them children, while more than 10 million are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.

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Gunay Hasanova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @gunhasanova

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