MOSUL, Iraq – The commander of Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces announced on Saturday that
they had taken control of two more neighborhoods in eastern Mosul as
twin blasts in Baghdad killed 28 and wounded 50 others.
“We
have closed doors upon ISIS after pushing them back in both Quds one
and two neighborhoods,” Abdulghani Assadi, Iraqi counter-terror
commander, told Rudaw in an exclusive interview, reporting high
casualties among ISIS.
“ISIS causalities are on
the rise. 2,000 militants have been killed so far,” Assadi added, saying
that clearing the east side of the city will happen within days.
“ISIS
is no longer in Quds,” Assadi said, declaring victory in a neighborhood
that is next to Karama where militants are fiercely resisting in an
effort to maintain their grip on the area.
The Iraqi army has liberated more than 40 neighborhoods in their operation that began on October 17 to recapture the country’s second largest city, Mosul, from the militants.
ISIS
militants have deployed a number of snipers inside residential houses
in eastern Mosul, slowing down the advance of Iraqi forces.
“The
enemies are unpredictably changing plans,” Assadi said, describing the
difficulties they are facing. “We also make progress in our plans” of
maintaining a decisive push to clear eastern Mosul from the militants in
coming days.
As the Iraqi army advanced in Mosul, two suicide bombers blew up their explosives on Saturday in the busy al-Sinak market in the center of Baghdad, killing at least 28 people and wounding 50 others.
ISIS issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack.