Militants killed as security forces resumes eastern Mosul battles: Police

Nineveh (IraqiNews.com) A number of Islamic State militants were killed on Thursday as Iraqi government security forces declared the start of a second phase of operations to clear the eastern section of Mosul from Islamic State militants, police said.

The militants were trying to pass from the western region to the east using al-Nasr district Bridge, according to Federal Police commander, Lt. Gen. Raed Shaker Jawdat, who said that artillery forces bombed an IS gathering and killed five militants at Jadidat al-Mufti neighborhood.

Two IS-run vehicles and a booby-trapping workshop were also destroyed in operations at al-Salam and the Industrial Zone regions, said Jawdat. Two trapped vehicles were also handled in al-Intissar district.

The resumption of operations comes after almost a week of recess dictated by inclement weather and the need for resupply and military reinforcements.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in statements on Tuesday that defeating IS needs three extra months. He had previously hoped the battle would wrap up before the end of 2016. His comments are more optimistic than US coalition commanders who envision victory within two years at least. Iraqi generals have said they now control a quarter of Mosul (or 40 districts out of 56 in the east), but the extremist group still bombs and launches suicide attacks on liberated areas.

ISIS remains in control of some areas of the western section, which is adjacent to its strongholds in Syria.

The battles for Mosul has forced 137.000 people to flee homes to refugee camps, according to the latest count by the Ministry of Migration and Displacement.