Iraqi regular forces continue advance in Mosul

IRBIL, Jan 5 (KUNA) -- Government forces have advanced into Al-Salam district in Mosul after liberating a number of neighborhoods in the southeastern sector of the embattled city.
Lieut. Gen. Raed Jawdat, the chief of the Iraqi Federal Police, said in a statement on Thursday that units of the internal forces continued gaining ground in the districts of Falesteen and Hey Al-Salam in southeastern sector of the city and were approaching Al-Salam Hospital.
Headquarters of the so-called Islamic State organization was demolished, said Lieut. Gen. Jawdat, adding that the regulars took over workshops where the IS militants rigged reconnaissance drones and planted explosives in ground vehicles.
The IS has suffered up to 1,700 deaths since launch of the second phase of the government campaign to recapture Mosul from the radical movements.
Meanwhile, Lieut. Gen. Jawdat said the policemen freed a Yazidi woman that had been held as a hostage by the IS in Somar in eastern Mosul. Three other Yazidi women, formerly held as hostages, were turned over to their families by Ninawa governorate council.
The government forces began a wide-scale offensive on October 17th to drive the IS out of Mosul. (end) sbr.rk