Counter-Terrorism forces have on Monday (January 2nd) liberated al-Karama neighbourhood in eastern Mosul from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), the Ninawa Operations Command said.

"Iraqi forces have raised the Iraqi flag on al-Karama neighbourhood and liberated large parts of al-Hay al-Sinaie," Ninawa Operations Commander Nejim Eddin Karim al-Jubury told Diyaruna.

The battles, in which over 100 ISIL elements were killed or wounded, are receiving major support from the international coalition, he said.

"Our military forces are advancing in spite of all the obstacles," he said, noting that they have also been providing relief assistance to residents of liberated areas.

On Sunday, Staff Lt. Gen. Abdulwahab al-Saadi, a top commander in Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), said that "more than 60%" of eastern Mosul has been recaptured from ISIL since the start of the operations on October 17th.

Saadi said ISIL elements have reinforced east Mosul, where the fighting has been concentrated so far, even using a crane to lift explosives-rigged vehicles across a destroyed bridge, AFP reported.

"The crane was struck," he said.

On Thursday, Iraqi forces announced the "second phase" of the battle for eastern Mosul, marking the start of a new round of intensive fighting.