IRBIL, Jan 20 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Army troops took over on Friday the free zone in northern sector of the embattled city of Mosul, forcing militants of the so-called Islamic State (IS) to abandon more positions.
Lieut. Gen. Abdulamir Yarallah, commander of the operation, "we are coming Ninawa," said in a statement that troops of the Army 9th Armored Division took control of the commercial zone, hoisting Iraq Flag atop buildings that have been cleared of the IS gunmen, who suffered heavy losses and casualties.
The regular forces have successfully advanced into other sectors, taking over buildings of the judiciary and the municipality, with backing by warplanes of the army and the international coalition.
The Iraqi Army launched a wide-scale military operation on October 17th, aimed at driving the diehard warriors out of Iraq's second largest city, overrun by the extremists in June 2014.
The IS, also called in Arabic "Daesh," has occupied large swaths of land in Iraq and Syria and declared a self-styled "Islamic state." Super powers have deployed heavy arms, warplanes and fighter jets in the war on the IS, led by a hardliner who lives in the shadows -- named Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. (end) sbr.rk