Iraq forces arrest 7 Islamic State elements in Mosul
Security forces arrest a terrorist. File Photo.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraq’s special forces have arrested seven elements linked to the Islamic State (IS) after surrounding them inside a house in al-Shahwan district in the Old City area, a security source told Shafaaq News.
“Security forces arrested seven militants linked to the IS early Tuesday in al-Shahwan district in the Old City area in western Mosul,” the source said.
“The forces are clearing the area and evacuating civilians who did not manage to leave the area on Monday,” he added.
On Monday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over Islamic State in the city of Mosul, ending an eight-month campaign backed by a U.S.-led coalition and paramilitary forces, which has displaced more than 900.000 civilians.
The victory in Mosul also means an effective collapse of the Islamic State’s self-styled “caliphate” declared from Mosul’s Old City by the group’s supreme leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Security forces had arrested several IS members hiding among migrating civilians in both the eastern and western sides of Mosul. Some observers had voiced fears that dormant IS cells could remain in the city and pose a security threat after the city is totally retaken from the extremist group.