Islamic State drone kills 5 civilians, 5 militants arrested in eastern Mosul
Archival file photo of ISIS drone. ISIS has deployed drones outfitted with explosives to attack targets, for aerial reconnaissance and propaganda video recording.
Anadolu Agency quoted Brig. Gen. Mohamed al-Bostani, from the army’s 16th division, saying that an advanced drone dropped two rockets on al-Rashidiya, northeast of Mosul, killing five civilians and wounding three others.
Bostani said the situation in eastern Mosul, which Iraqi forces recaptured from IS late January, was still “unstable” and in need for more intelligence and security effort.
Since recapturing eastern Mosul, Islamic State militants attacked liberated areas in the west with drones and sneaking militants, killing several civilians and security personnel. Iraqi officials have also voiced fears that dormant IS cells in those areas could pose a security threat.
Shafaq news website quoted a security source on Wednesday saying that five Islamic State militants were arrested in al-Zharaa district. They were found inside a house whose owners migrated to refugee camps.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Birg. Gen. Abdulaziz al-Na’as, from the army’s 9th division, said the supreme security command ordered his division and Federal Police forces to halt their advances towards residential areas in western Mosul fearing losses in personnel and equipment.
He said orders were given to focus on the liberation of Mosul Airport and the adjacent Ghizlani military camp.