Iraqi forces pushed into enemy territory in west Mosul at dawn on Thursday (March 16th), consolidating their gains in the battle to liberate the last "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) stronghold in Iraq.
"Special units from the army and Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) advanced into several areas in al-Resala, al-Hadid, Wadi al-Ain and New Mosul neighbourhoods, destroying three ISIL sites and killing many of the group's elements," Iraq's Joint Operations Command spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahiya Rasul told Diyaruna.
Meanwhile, battles are under way along confrontation lines in the Old City, Bab Sinjar and Nablus, he added.
Today's operations have also seen the full recapture of the Karaj area, Rasul said, adding that Iraqi forces are now in control of the west bank of the Tigris River following the liberation of the town of Badush.
"Communication between the elements of the group that are still in the remaining neighbourhoods of west Mosul and the outside world has been permanently cut," Rasul said.
