PMUs: IS fighters numbers in Mosul at 2000, 5000 in Nineveh

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The number of Islamic State militants currently fighting in western Mosul stands at 2000 members, higher than the 1000 estimated by the U.S.-led coalition, according to paramilitary forces fighting the group.

Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesperson of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units), said Tuesday that 70 percent of IS fighters in western Mosul were Iraqis.

“Numbers mentioned by U.S. officials, about the numbers of terrorist Daesh (IS) members being nearly 1000, are related to only western Mosul,” Assadi said in statements quoted by Alsumaria News. “What is left of the western side does not exceed 30 percent (of territory), so the number of fighters does not exceed 1000, and they are trapped in that space,” he added.

According to Assadi, the number of IS members at the group’s so-called “al-Jazeera State”, reaches more than 3000 fighters, and there are 2000 others in “Nineveh State”.

IS’s Al-Jazeera State comprises towns and regions west of Mosul and near the borders with Syria like Baaj, Tal Afar and Mahalabiya, while Nineveh State primarily includes Mosul.

“Those terrorists, though shrinking in numbers, are still holding between 200.000 and 300.000 civilians.

Mosul fell to IS militants in 2014, after which the group’s supreme leader declared an “Islamic Caliphate” in Iraq and neighboring Syria. Iraqi government troops launched an offensive in October to retake the city, managing to recapture the eastern region in January and launching an offensive in February to retake the west.