Iraqi forces, backed by the international coalition, stormed the village of Imam Gharbi in al-Qayyarah at dawn on Friday (July 14th) to retake it from the "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" (ISIS), Iraq's Joint Operations Command said.
ISIS infiltrated Imam Gharbi, south of Mosul, on July 5th, seizing territory in the village and barricading themselves inside its buildings.
The army on Wednesday launched an operation to retake the village and increased its security measures in surrounding villages and areas to prevent ISIS militants from infiltrating them.
"Joint forces stormed Imam Gharbi, 61 kilometres south of Mosul, and have liberated large areas of the village," command spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasul told Diyaruna.
They continue to advance in the village and to inflict heavy losses on ISIS, he said.
"The army has tightened its noose on Imam Gharbi and is now besieging the remaining ISIS fighters in a small part of the village," he said.
