Mosul Campaign Day 84, Jan 8, 2017

The Iraqi Forces (ISF) continued to advance in east Mosul finally reaching the Tigris River, which bisects the city. The Golden Division attacked the Sukar and Baladiyat neighborhoods in the northeast, and the Sumer and Dumiz areas in the southeast by the 9^th Division, Federal Police and Rapid Reaction forces. The ISF was still applying pressure on Kindi in the north, and Wahda, Dumiz and Palestine in the south as well. By the end of the day Sadiq, Baladiyat, and Sukar were unofficially declared freed, the residential district of Hadbaa was cleared, and the Tigris River in the south and Mosul University in the north were reached, and the ISF were heading towards the Ninewa Ruins in the northeast. Sadiq was a new neighborhood reached, while this was the third time Sukar might have been liberated. Baladiyat was entered at the end of the December when the Mosul campaign was restarted.

In the Tal Afar district to the west of Mosul the Hashd were still waiting for orders to launch their sixth phase. The Hashd are in limbo as there is an agreement between Turkey and Baghdad to not allow them to take the town of Tal Afar itself. That means they are stuck taking small towns in the district. They freed two more on the day.

The Islamic State was still putting up stiff resistance. The Federal Police were attacked in the southeast. A car bomb exploded in Ghufron killing two. Four other vehicle bombs in Hadbaa, four leading to the Fourth Bridge in the southeast, and three in Palestine and Dumiz were destroyed. Two towns in the Tal Afar district and the airport were assaulted as well. The militants also destroyed several buildings and a hospital in Mosul University.

SOURCES

Al Aalem, “People of liberated district describe for Al Aalem the final moments of their liberation yesterday,” 1/8/17

Adel, Loaa, "Iraqi forces reach east bank of Tigris in Mosul: Iraqi officer," Iraqi News, 1/8/17

- “Islamic state burns Khansa Hospital and some buildings of Mosul University,” Iraqi News, 1/8/17

- "Security forces repel IS attack north of Mosul, 10 militants killed," Iraqi News, 1/8/17

AIN, "Forces liberated today up to the bank of the Tigris in Mosul, killing 187 Daash [Revised]," 1/8/17

- “Urgent counterterrorism forces liberate Kafat neighborhood on the left coast of Mosul,” 12/3/16

Bas News, "Mosul: Iraqi Forces Liberate Three More Neighbourhoods," 1/8/17

Buratha News, “Freed health clinic in Sukar neighborhood left coast of Mosul,” 1/8/17

- “Popular crowd announces results of operations and confirms ready to launch sixth stage,” 1/8/17

- “Recent developments in the field during the process of liberating Mosul until 15:55 pm Sunday 08 01 2017,” 1/8/17

- “Recent developments in the field during the process of liberating Mosul until 16:00 pm Sunday 08 01 2017,” 1/8/17

Iraq News Network, Counter Terrorism Services: our troops reached the outskirts of Mosul University," 1/8/17

Iraq Oil Report, “Inside Mosul: Jan. 7, 2017,” 1/7/17

- “Inside Mosul: Jan. 8, 2017,” 1/8/17

Al Maalomah, "Federal police kill four Daash north Mosul," 1/8/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, "Iraqi forces charge at new districts northeast, southeast of Mosul," Iraqi News, 1/8/17

Mousa, Ahmad, “Iraq forces in Mosul punch to Tigris for first time,” Agence France Presse, 1/8/17

NINA, “/7/ civilians killed in bombing by Daesh, and the Iraqi forces stormed two residential buildings in the northern axis of Mosul,” 12/28/16

- “Security Forces Liberate Sukkar Area North Of Mosul,” 12/15/16

Reuters, “Iraqi special forces reach Tigris river in Mosul: spokesman,” 1/8/17

Rudaw, “Iraqi forces reach the Tigris River in Mosul,” 1/18/17

Shafaaq News, "Killing of a doctor and his son by a roadside bomb near their home southeast Mosul," 1/8/17

Sotaliraq, "Popular crowd repels Daesh attack west of Mosul," 1/8/17

Al Sumaria, “Member of Nineveh Council: The joint forces approaching full control of the left coast of Mosul,” 1/8/17