Three IS suicide attackers killed after infiltration into eastern Mosul
Iraqi rapid response forces cary their weapons during battle with Islamic State militants in the Mithaq district of eastern Mosul, Iraq, January 4, 2017. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
In a statement on Sunday, the statement said the 16th division killed three suicide attackers, including a leader and his assistant, who were wearing suicide belts and possessing explosives after they sneaked from western Mosul heading toward the eastern side of the city to target civilians and security personnel.
Ealier, a statement by the War Media Cell said that 30 IS members were killed while fleeing western Mosul to its liberated eastern side via the Tigris River.
On the same day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in Mosul and congratulated Iraqi forces and citizens on the victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014.
The victory in Mosul comes after eight months of fighting by Iraqi government forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, against IS militants.
On Saturday, Iraqi Joint Operations Command’s spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahia Rasoul, was quoted as saying forces took control over the Old City.
Iraqi troops took over the Old City’s Nuri al-Kabir Mosque, where IS supreme leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi first declared the proclaimed caliphate covering parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014, in late June.