They are 4 km away from central Mosul in the east

by **Ponee** Tue Oct 25, 2016 11:52 am

MOSUL — The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Forces who are participating in the Mosul assault launched a large scale operation in eastern Mosul aiming to retake the areas still held by the militants on the outskirts of Mosul.

Abdulwahab al-Saidi, the commander of counter terrorism forces, told BasNews on Monday that they have commenced an operation at dawn from two fronts in Bartella district and the eastern outskirts of Mosul.

The operation was aimed at liberating two Kurdish Shabak villages which are Bazwaya and Kokjali as well as the villages of Khazna, Tobzawa and Qal'at in Bartella.

Saidi affirmed that the forces have managed to liberate Khazna village and enter other villages in which the clashes are continuing with the counter terrorism forces making advances against the Islamic State (IS), noting that they have reached an area only 4 km from central Mosul in the east.

"The operation of Mosul will not take a long time since the Iraqi security forces, police, army and Peshmerga are well prepared on all fronts," he added.

10.25.2016

Basnews English