Eight IS militants killed in army airstrike, south of Mosul
An air strike on a residential area in Mosul.
“Army launched airstrike against IS militant in Tal Faris region, southwest of Mosul, leaving eight militants killed,” the command said in a statement on Saturday.
A family composed of a woman and her two sons were reportedly killed by IS militants, who infiltrated via Tigris river toward Hammam al-Alil, south of Mosul.
On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over IS militants who had held the second largest Iraqi city since 2014. More than 25000 militants were killed throughout the campaign, which started in October 2016.
Since the city was declared free, security troops continue to comb western Mosul areas for hidden IS cells.
Despite declaring the victory over IS there in the city, observers say IS is believed to constitute a security threat even after the group’s defeat at its main havens across Iraqi provinces.
Having recaptured Hawija in Kirkuk, Mosul and Tal Afar in Nineveh and Annah town in Anbar, Iraqi troops still have only western Anbar’s towns of Rawa and Qaim remain under the militant’s control.