International News

MOSUL, Iraq, (MILLAT+APP/AFP) – Elite Iraqi forces
were engaged in “intense” fighting with militants in eastern
Mosul on Saturday as they tried to fortify positions before
advancing further into the city, an officer said.
Iraqi forces launched a massive operation to retake the
country’s second city from the Islamic State group on October 17,
and the Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) special forces have pushed
the militants back from some Mosul neighbourhoods.
But there are still weeks if not months of fighting ahead
in the battle to recapture the last IS-held Iraqi city.
“The fighting is intense this morning. We’re trying to
fortify our positions in Arbajiyah before continuing our attack
into Al-Bakr,” said Staff Lieutenant Colonel Muntadhar Salem
of CTS, referring to two Mosul areas.
CTS forces launched an assault on Arbajiyah the day before,
and Salem said that they were in control of the area on
Saturday.
IS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014,
but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained significant ground from the militants.