Al-Hashed al-Shaabi, federal police, resume offensives on west, east of Mosul

(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Al-Hashed al-Shaabi militia said Monday it was going to launch the “third phase” of its operations to retake the western section of the city of Mosul from Islamic State militants, urging civilians to help facilitate their mission.

“We are calling upon our people, especially those at the occupied areas, to support our fighters on all levels,” Al-Hashed al-Shaabi spokesperson, Ahmed al-Assadi, said in a statement.

The mainly-Shia militia, believed to enjoy generous support from Iran as well as approval from the Iraqi government, launched its operations on the western Mosul late October, partaking in the major battle to free ISIS’s last stronghold in Iraq. Its involvement in battles has, however, elicited local and international fears that it would carry out retaliatory actions against Sunni populations of the liberated areas for their presumed support for ISIS.

Meanwhile, federal police forces continue their operations on the eastern section of Mosul on Monday, proceeding with battles at the districts of Aden and al-Bakr, after having liberated the district of Karkokli on Sunday.

Federal police commander Raed Shaker Jawdat said his forces have so far retaken 1846 square kilometers of the southern section of the city, having recaptured 94 villages and killed 935 militants.