Abadi: Eastern Mosul fully liberated from Daesh terrorists

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has confirmed reports of the complete recapture of eastern Mosul as a large-scale operation goes on to rid the whole city from the Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

In comments broadcast live on state TV on Tuesday, Abadi also stressed the non-participation of foreign troops in the fight against Daesh terrorists in the Arab country.

The Iraqi premier said the liberation of eastern Mosul was made possible through the "unmatched heroism of all security forces factions" and the public support for the operation.

He further called on the security forces to swiftly begin the operation to recapture other Mosul areas, especially those on the city’s right bank.

Asked how long it would take to wrest control of Mosul’s western side, Abadi told The Associated Press, "I can't tell now, but we are capable of doing so and we will do."

He also dismissed as untrue claims about civilians going missing in the city of Fallujah.

On Tuesday, the commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Rasheed Yarallah, announced the liberation of four villages in northern Mosul.

The Iraqi national flag was hoisted over buildings in the villages of Bawira, lower and upper Sharikhan and Bisan, he said.

Additionally, Adnan al-Tamimi, the head of Muqdadiyah City Council, said security and popular forces were carrying out a joint operation from three fronts in northeastern Baqubah, Diyala’s provincial capital.

Tamimi further stressed that the campaigns were aimed at preventing any Daesh infiltration into 40 already liberated villages nearby.

Meanwhile, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units said 17 terrorists had been killed and four of their vehicles destroyed in the Sakariyat area in the northwest of Salahuddin Province.

Furthermore, Iraq's Arabic-language al-Sumaria TV network reported that the Daesh militants had withdrawn from their positions in central Tal Afar in western Mosul and burned their documents.

In another development, the Iraqi Federal Police said Daesh mortar attacks targeted residential areas in Sumer neighborhood in the southeast of Mosul.

Commander of Federal Police Forces Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat said the attacks injured a number of people, who were later taken to Hamdaniyah Hospital.

Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters launched the Mosul liberation operation on October 17, 2016, and since then they have made major gains against Takfiri elements.

The Iraqi forces are currently gearing up for an offensive to purge Daesh from the western part of Mosul. 

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