Iraqi forces have been advancing steadily against the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) in Mosul over the past 24 hours, capturing many new neighbourhoods, the local government in Ninawa province said Friday (November 11th).

Ninawa deputy governor Hasan al-Allaf told Diyaruna that 15 neighbourhoods have so far been liberated since the launch of the offensive on October 17th.

These include al-Methaq, al-Wehda, al-Shaymaa, al-Salam, al-Quds, al-Karma, Aden, al-Zahraa, al-Ikhaa, al-Samah, al-Intessar, al-Tilivizion, Gogjali, al-Malayeen and Sadat Bweiza.

Iraqi forces are now preparing to storm new areas, al-Allaf said.

"Civilians are one of the causes of slow progress now, as ISIL is using them as human shields by trying to barricade behind them and attack the security forces," he said. "This is their last card, but they will undoubtedly fail, and the proof is the progress that was made by our forces today on all fronts."

Also on Friday, the Iraqi Ministry of Migration and Displacement announced it is stepping up efforts to aid displaced Mosul residents.

"In collaboration with the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the ministry on Friday launched intensive relief operations by setting up 3,000 tents, preparing thousands of foods baskets, and boosting the number of physicians at the camps to about 800," Iraq’s Minister of Migration and Displacement Mohammed al-Jaf told Diyaruna.

"Vehicles will transport the displaced people who leave combat areas to displacement camps," he said. "More than 45,000 civilians have been received since the launch of Mosul liberation operation."