Iraqi army resumes advance towards Dawasa and kills dozens

Iraqi forces of Federal Police resumed their advance to Mousl’s Dawasa district, as they killed 102 extremists and arrested four during the current military operations to liberate the Iraqi second largest city. The International Coalition’s fighter jets bombed three villages controlled by ISIS militants in Kirkuk, while the Iraqi air forces killed dozens of extremists in 25 raids targeting their strongholds in the city’s right bank.

According to a statement issued by military media cell, the Iraqi air forces secured 25 military attacks, as they killed a large number of extremists and destroyed seven bombing wheels and a motorcycle. They also targeted hideouts of snipers in the right bank of Mousl. It also praised the role performed by the Iraqi air forces to secure four military attacks against the strongholds of extremists in Telaffar destroying four laboratories to bomb the wheels and to make explosives.

The statement continued, “International Coalition’s fighter jets secured 60 military attacks in which the Iraqi army managed to destroy large amounts of equipment and kill a number of militants loyal to the extremist group.”

It added that the Federal Police managed to storm the districts of Jawsaq and Aviation, liberating over 50 percent of their areas, stressing that the forces resume their advance in the districts to cleanse them from the extremist elements. They also managed to bomb 12 explosive devices and killed a number of extremist, including a sniper in Jawsaq district.

On his hand, leader of Federal Police Shaker Jawdat said that they achieved notable advance in Aviation district, stressing that they reached to a point near Dawasa area. He revealed that they managed to kill 102 extremists and arrest four persons.

Spokesperson of Popular Mobilization Forces Ahmed Al Assady said in a press statement that the Iraqi forces managed to liberate over 103 kilometers of the city, as they killed 207 elements of ISIS and exploded 36 car bombs. He added that his forces also managed to liberate 1200 civilians from the grip of the extremist group.

He added, “Popular Mobilization Forces managed to liberate a large number of villages, including Northern Sharia, Ain Tahlawy, Southern Ebra, Tel Al Zalat, Zeitun and Aziziya in addition to other villages. They also liberated a petrol station in Telaffar.”

On the other hand, United Nations Missions in Iraq (UNAMI) expressed its desire to cooperate with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to obtain evidences condemning ISIS to present them to the international courts.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense, the Iraqi Defense Minister Erfan Al Heyali met with UN Representative to Iraq Zeinab Bankora to discuss a number of issues, including the violations committed by the extremist group in Iraq especially the crimes related to the sexual violence committed against the civilians during the recent wars.

The UN official expressed her appreciation to the Iraqi military forces for their keenness to protect the civilians in the combat zones and their positive role in dealing with the women. She condemned the violent approach adopted by the extremists in dealing with the women and children, stressing their need for more cooperation with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to obtain more evidences condemning ISIS.