Iraq: Hashd Shaabi Says Operation to Liberate West Mosul Ends Successfully

Iraqi volunteer forces engaged in massive operation against ISIL Takfiri group in West Mosul said the operation has ended successfully.

Deputy Head of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd Shaabi, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis said PMF had liberated 14,000 square kilometers and 360 villages.

In a press conference late Friday, Muhandis said more than 2,000 terrorists were killed by the Iraqi troops in western Mosul.

He further said the popular forces are fully prepared to liberate Tal Afar, a town located approximately 50 km west of Mosul.

Hashd fighters had so far liberated between 50 and 60 kilometers of the Iraqi-Syrian borderline, according to Muhandis.

Iraqi forces retook eastern Mosul in January and began a new push last week to capture the group’s remaining enclave in western Mosul, comprising of the Old City center, and three adjacent districts alongside the western bank of the River Tigris.

The fall of the city would, in effect, mark the end of the terrorist group in Iraq.

The Mosul offensive, now in its eighth month, has taken much more time than expected as the terror group has been using the trapped civilians in the city as human shields.