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19:05 GMT
The Iraqi forces in Mosul
IRBIL, Jan 3 (KUNA) -- The Iraqi forces on Tuesday announced killing 259 militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) in Mosul and controlled new neighborhoods in the city.
In a press statement, media unit of the joint operations' command in Nineveh said that the forces had made progress since the second phase of liberating Mosul city started on December 29, 2016.
In the eastern axis of the city's left coast, counter-terrorism forces managed to eliminate 75 IS elements, while operations in the southern axis resulted in the killing of 93 elements, as the forces are now near the Tigris River, according to the statement.
In the northern axis, 11 gunmen were killed by international coalition air raids, it noted, adding that 80 IS members were also killed western Tal Afar. The Mosul battle has begun on October 17, with the participation of Peshmerga, Iraq and international coalition's forces. (end)
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