According to the Defense Ministry’s War Media Cell, the number of districts recaptured from Daesh terrorist group is now at least 24.
Military and police commanders claim the government forces now control nearly 50 percent of the eastern part of Mosul. However, they admit that Daesh troops show fierce resistance with use of booby-traps and suicide attacks.
Commanders also underlined that one of the factors that slow down operations against terrorists holding Mosul is security of civilians that are caught within the battlefield. The operation in Mosul has been ongoing since October 17. The offensive is led by Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and Iraqi soldiers backed by the US-led anti-terror coalition.
SPUTNIK/MNA