LOC12:55
09:55 GMT
IRBIL, North Iraq, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- Kurdish paramilitary forces the Peshmerga launched on Thursday a new land offensive on strongholds of the so called Islamic State (IS) fighters entrenched in northern city of Mosul, on the fourth day of the ongoing wide-scale offensive to dislodge the militants from the city.
General Command of Peshmerga forces said in a statement that the Kurdish forces launched early today an extensive attack on north and north eastern Mosul as part of the operation to crush the IS positions in the Ninawa Governorate.
"This operation consists of three axes and aims to overtake the strategic and vital regions of Mosul Governorate", it added.
Simultaneously, Iraqi Government forces marched towards the south axis of Mosul on the fourth day of the wide-scale offensive, carried out in cooperation between the Peshmerga forces and the international coalition to free the city from the IS grip.
The military command added in a statement that the Federal Police have regained control over seven villages, while Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) is battling to regain two more areas.
Peshmerga forces in cooperation with the Baghdad government forces are advancing from the northern, eastern, southern approaches to the city in preparation to break the IS defenses and reach its heart.
Last Monday, the military operation to liberate Mosul, Iraq' second largest city, was launched.
The Iraqi Army is contributing with the largest number of troops in the large-scale operation -- estimated at 65,000 personnel. (end)
sbr.lb