Thu Oct 20, 2016 11:15:59
Iraqi troops launch a fresh push against areas held by ISIS terrorists around Mosul as special forces join the offensive to retake the Takfiri group's last major stronghold in Iraq.
Government troops advanced on the town of Bartallah, located less than 20 kilometers east of Mosul, on Thursday after capturing a string of villages nearby.
Iraq's Joint Operations Command said troops had established control over the villages of Bajwaniyah, Bajwaniyah al-Thalatha, Daraj, Bakr al-Oula, Bakr al-Thani, al-Mankoubah and al-Raflah and raised the national flag over buildings.
At dawn Thursday, militias assisting the Iraqi army attacked villages near Bashiqa where the presence of Turkish troops has sparked a bitter dispute between the two countries.
Field commanders said the "large-scale operation," launched at 6:00 am (0300 GMT) north and northeast of Mosul, was aimed at clearing nearby villages and secure control of strategic areas to further restrict ISIS movements, Press TV reported.
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