Ten civilians were killed and 34 wounded in a mortar attack launched by the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) late Tuesday (December 20th) on liberated neighbourhoods in the eastern half of Mosul, a military Iraqi commander said.

"ISIL launched dozens of mortars on the neighbourhoods of Gogjali, al-Zohur and al-Muthanna in retaliatory operations against the residents who welcomed the security forces in spontaneous celebrations," Ninawa Operations commander Nejim Eddin Karim al-Jubury said.

"Most of the victims are women and children," he said.

"The international coalition fighter jets intervened to stop the bombardment, and were able to locate and silence the source of fire in central Mosul and kill a number of terrorists," he said.

Human Rights Watch has said that ISIL is "indiscriminately" attacking Mosul residents who refused to retreat when it did, AFP reported Wednesday.

"Residents said ISIL members told them in person, by radio, and over mosque loudspeakers that those who stayed behind were 'unbelievers' and therefore valid targets along with the Iraqi and coalition forces," the rights group said.