The number of recaptured towns and neighbourhoods in Mosul's eastern front has now risen to 31 and Iraqi forces are only a few kilometres away from the Tigris River in central Mosul, Ninawa Operations commander Nejim Eddin Karim al-Jubury said Monday (December 12th).

Almost one month after the operation to retake Mosul from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) was launched, Iraqi forces now control 31 out of 86 neighbourhoods in Mosul's eastern half.

"Iraqi forces now control Gogjali, Yunis al-Sabawi, al-Arbija, al-Samah, al-Shishan, Saddam, al-Tahrir, al-Amn, Boweiza, al-Salam, al-Intessar, al-Quds, al-Shaqaq, Aden, al-Bakr, al-Qadisiya 2, al-Muharebeen, al-Sada, al-Qadisiya 1, al-Zohour, Jadidat al-Mufti, al-Mithaq, al-Barid, al-Shikhiya, al-Mishraq, al-Morur, al-Tamim, al-Fallah, al-Masaref and al-Nour," al-Jubury said.

"These neighbourhoods represent 30% of the total area of Mosul, and battles are underway to make more progress," he told Diyaruna.

"We are just three kilometres away from Tigris River in the central town area," he added.

Over 200 ISIL elements were killed or wounded in the battles over the past two days, al-Jubury said.

Meanwhile, the EU said it had sent a plane Monday carrying aid for people in Mosul.

The aircraft carrying 40 tonnes of supplies landed in Erbil in northern Iraq and will be the first of several aircraft sent by the 28-nation bloc this week, it said.

The plane carried 268 family tents capable of sheltering up to 1,400 people, and 3,000 blankets as well as sleeping mats, maternity kits and hygiene supplies, the EU said.