Iraq Sends Reinforcements to Eastern Mosul after Daesh Attack
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An Iraqi commander says reinforcements have been sent to eastern Mosul after a major Daesh counterattack drove troops back last week, further slowing a nearly two-month-old offensive to retake the city.
Maj. Gen. Najim al-Jabouri said Sunday that Federal Police and Iraqi army units have moved from the southern front to the city's east, where most of the fighting has been concentrated in recent weeks, according to the Associated Press.
Iraqi commanders had hoped to push up from the south to take Mosul's international airport, but those plans appear to be on hold.
Iraqi troops were driven back last week within hours of seizing the al-Salam hospital in eastern Mosul, which Daesh had been using as a base. More than 20 soldiers were killed before special forces opened a corridor for them to retreat.
Daesh terrorists depend on suicide car bombs and sniper fire to derail the security forces, as well as a network of underground tunnels.
Iraqi government troops and popular forces launched a campaign in October to dislodge Daesh from Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and Daesh's last major urban bastion in the country.
