Iraqi forces began clearing several liberated neighbourhoods in western Mosul of explosives while advancing into new "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) controlled areas , Iraq’s Joint Operations Command said Thursday (March 23rd).
"We launched ground operations deep into ISIL-controlled areas today, and continue to drain the group’s capabilities after killing about 40 of its elements and seizing their weapons," said Joint Operations Command spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasul.
Additionally, Iraqi forces have retaken several areas and streets in the Old City and al-Abar neighbourhood, he told Diyaruna.
Army engineering teams started clearing war remnants, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and landmines, and dismantling vehicles and houses rigged with explosives in the liberated neighbourhoods, he said.
