The Iraqi forces (ISF) continued clearing old areas of east
Mosul. The Golden Division took the two-part neighborhood of Falah.
There was continued fighting in Muthanna
as well. Both had been freed before however. General Abdul Wahab al-Saedi of
the Division told
the press there are only six districts left to free all of the eastern half of
the city. The ISF are only in about 40% of that section however and many
neighborhoods remain contested so there is still a long fight ahead to achieve
that goal.
The southern front may finally be moving. The Mosul airport
was shelled
and the town of Albu Saif was attacked. The forces in the south have not made
any substantial movement in almost a month and some units were transferred to
east Mosul. Now things may finally be progressing again, which would help take
pressure off those forces already in the city.
In the west the Hashd continued to clear towns. Five villages
were taken during the day. The
Hashd are still talking
about moving west towards the Syrian border to try to cut off the Islamic
State’s supply lines. With no sign that the ISF will free Tal Afar anytime soon
however the Hashd will have to stay in the district.
SOURCES
Al Alam, "EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Iraq Hashd al-Shaabi Forces Retake
2 Key Villages from ISIS," 12/13/16
Adel, Loaa, "Counter-Terrorism forces free 2 neighborhoods in
Mosul," Iraqi News, 12/13/16
Bas News, “Iraqi Army Stages “Tactical” Pause in Operations
in East of Mosul: Report,” 12/13/16
- "Iraqi Forces Retake Two More Neighborhoods Eastern
Mosul," 12/6/16
Iraq Oil Report, "Inside Mosul, Dec. 13, 2016," 12/13/16
Al Masalah, "Popular Crowd frees three villages west of
Mosul," 12/13/16
Mostafa, Mohamed, “Commander: six districts left to
recapture eastern Mosul,” Iraqi News, 12/13/16
Rasheed, Ahmed and Hameed, Saif, “Iraqi Shi’ite forces aim
to clear border strip with Syria,” Reuters, 12/13/16
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