Iraqi troops detonate seven booby-trapped houses in Mosul

Nineveh (Iraqinews.com) Iraqi security forces have detonated seven booby-trapped houses in Mosul city, a security source told Baghdad Today website.

“As part of a military operation to cleanse Mosul of Islamic State remnants, security forces have set seven houses off at Hawi al-Kanisah area in western Mosul city,” the source said on Sunday.

The houses were booby-trapped by the IS militant group, he added.

“The troops also found a tunnel that was used by Islamic State militants for storing explosive charges,” the source added.

On July 10, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced liberation of the second largest Iraqi city of Mosul from IS militants, who had captured it in 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 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.

On Saturday, Abadi declared final victory over Islamic State throughout Iraq, three years after the militant group captured about a third of Iraq’s territory.

In a speech during the international media conference held at the journalists syndicate in Baghdad, Abadi said, “Our troops gained full control on the Iraqi-Syrian borders. We announce the end of war against Islamic State.”

“Our battle against the enemy, who wanted to destroy our civilization, is over. Thus, we gained victory through our unity and determination that made us defeat IS in short time,” he said.

Abadi’s announcement comes two days after Russia announced a similar victory over Islamic State militants in neighboring Syria. Abadi declared Dec. 10 an annual national holiday on this occasion.