Iraqi forces have recaptured around half of two neighbourhoods in west Mosul that are among the targets of a broad offensive against the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS) launched last week, AFP reported Friday (June 2nd).

"Our units are now present in al-Seha neighbourhood and completed (recapturing) 60% of it and are still advancing," said Staff Brig. Gen. Haidar al-Obeidi, a commander in the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS).

Lt. Gen. Raed Shaker Jawdat, the commander of the federal police, said in a statement that his forces "continue to advance cautiously, and have imposed their control over 40% of al-Zanjili neighbourhood".

Those are two of the three neighbourhoods that are the target of the current assault by Iraqi forces, with the third being the nearby al-Shefaa area.

All three are located north of the Old City, a warren of narrow streets and closely-spaced buildings that has posed a major challenge for security forces.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Defence said liberating forces found a bomb-making workshop during a search operation in Hawi al-Kanisa neighbourhood.

"The security forces found in Hawi al-Kanisa a workshop for rigging vehicles with explosives and making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as well as a large stockpile of medicines and medical supplies belonging to ISIS", the statement said.