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Iraqi forces to complete liberation of E. Mosul soon - Al-Abadi

BAGHDAD, Jan 18 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi stated Wednesday that the Iraqi forces are about to complete the liberation of the eastern side of Mosul from the so-called Islamic State (IS) militants.
"The final liberation, and complete victory in Mosul is approaching," he said in a press statement.
He pointed out that the Iraqi forces would complete the liberation of the eastern side shortly.
He added that only few sites and buildings in northern districts of the eastern side of Mosul are still controlled by the IS militants.
Earlier, Commander of the Joint Operations and Anti-terror Squads announced the clearing eastern districts of the eastern side of Mosul from IS militants. Two days ago, Iraqi forces driven IS militants from southern districts.
Iraqi forces had now overrun most of the eastern side of Mosul, the jihadists' main stronghold in the country.
The western side of Mosul, which is home to the old city and some of the jihadists' traditional bastions, was always tipped as likely to offer the most resistance.
In mid-October Iraqi forces backed by US-led air power started a campaign to retake Mosul Iraq's second-largest city which has been under Islamic State control since mid-2014. (end) ahh.ibi