Iraq News
Security

Iraqi army clears explosives from al-Hamdaniya

By Alaa Hussain in Baghdad

An Iraqi soldier reads the Bible in a church in the newly liberated district of al-Hamdaniya, south-east of Mosul, which is largely Christian. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi special forces]

An Iraqi soldier reads the Bible in a church in the newly liberated district of al-Hamdaniya, south-east of Mosul, which is largely Christian. [Photo courtesy of the Iraqi special forces]

Iraqi forces have been removing unexploded ordnance from the streets of al-Hamdaniya district, south-east of Mosul, in preparation for the return of its residents, officials told Diyaruna.

The Ninawa province district, home to a large Syriac Christian population, was liberated on October 23rd after two years of "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) rule, which saw many of the area's churches destroyed or burned.

"Work is under way to restore stability to al-Hamdaniya, starting with the re-opening of the district's police station," Ninawa police chief Watheq al-Hamdani told Diyaruna.

He called on residents to return to their homes in liberated parts of the province.

"I ask you to return and rebuild what ISIL terrorists have destroyed, as towns can only be rebuilt by the strength of their own people," he said.

The responsibility of holding onto the liberated territory will fall to the Ninawa police, tribal mobilisation and local forces, he said, calling on residents to "collaborate with the security forces in the coming days and stand by them".

"Security is a collective responsibility and everyone must co-operate to establish stability and prevent the return of terrorism," he added.

Clearing the area, providing services

Security forces continue to clear the district of mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by ISIL elements as they fled the area, al-Hamdani said.

Once the area is declared safe of any explosive remnants of war, efforts can get under way to restore services, he added.

Engineering units from the Iraqi army's 35th Armoured Brigade are working to clear the city of explosive remnants of war, remove mines and IEDs, and demolish ISIL tunnels, said Lt. Col. Omar Adel, commander of the 35th Armoured Brigade's 5th tank battalion.

"The engineering teams already have removed, in the first week after the liberation of the district, more than 300 explosive devices and detonated about 20 car bombs, as well as demolished dozens of tunnels dug by the group to disguise its movements in the city," he told Diyaruna.

"Iraqi forces also have worked on securing supply and demarcation lines with the rest of the Iraqi forces in nearby areas and towns to sustain the momentum of the battle and enhance communication," he said.

Ninawa provincial council member Daoud Jundi told Diyaruna the local government "will work to mobilise large efforts to restore services prior to the return of residents to the city".

These will include clearing debris and waste from the streets, rehabilitating water networks and sewage systems and repairing power lines, he said.

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