- Title: Iraq special forces advance in eastern Mosul
- Date: 9th January 2017
- Summary: FURQAN DISTRICT, EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ (JANUARY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) COUNTER-TERRORISM SERVICE (CTS) VEHICLE CROSSING THE KHOSR RIVER (SEEN FROM INSIDE OF A HUMVEE) VARIOUS OF CTS SOLDIERS AND OFFICIALS IN THE FURQAN DISTRICT ROOFS AND MOSQUE MINARET DAMAGE CAUSED TO A MOSQUE AS SEEN FROM A HUMVEE RESIDENTS OF THE AREA GREETING CTS COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELWAHAB AL-SAADI (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) VARIOUS OF CTS ARMOURED VEHICLES / SOLDIERS IN THE AREA BALADIYAT DISTRICT, EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ (JANUARY 9, 2017) (REUTERS) SMOKE RISING FROM A SITE TARGETED BY THE CTS FORCES / CTS VEHICLES (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) FIRE CAUSED BY THE ATTACK ON THE AREA VARIOUS OF SMOKE RISING / CTS VEHICLES CTS HUMVEE WITH DAMAGED WINDOWS DRIVING DOWN A STREET PLUMES OF SMOKE / CTS VEHICLES / SOLDIER RUNNING ACROSS A ROAD MORE OF SMOKE RISING / CTS VEHICLES CTS ARMOURED VEHICLES / DAMAGED CIVILIAN CAR IN THE STREET (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) VARIOUS OF CTS VEHICLES AND SMOKE IN THE DISTRICT VARIOUS DAMAGED BUS (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) CTS SOLDIERS AND COMMANDERS WALKING DOWN A STREET RESIDENT OF THE AREA WALKING OUT OF A HOME / ARMY VEHICLES NEARBY (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) MORE OF CTS VEHICLES IN THE STREET (AUDIO OF GUNFIRE) VARIOUS OF ARMY VEHICLES DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA CTS COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELWAHAB AL-SAADI, STANDING WITH OTHERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CTS COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELWAHAB AL-SAADI, SAYING: "Today, we entered the Baladiyat and Sukkar district, the clearing operation is still ongoing, God willing in the next few hours we will completely clear these areas." AL-SAADI STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CTS COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELWAHAB AL-SAADI, SAYING: "The second convoy, which is also part of the Counter Terrorism Service, reached an area very close to the river and gained control of the fourth bridge, which separates the eastern side from the western side." CTS SOLDIERS INSPECTING EQUIPMENT SAID TO BE USED BY ISLAMIC STATE MILITANTS VARIOUS OF EQUIPMENT APPARENTLY USED BY ISLAMIC STATE SOLDIERS IN A HOME USED BY ISLAMIC STATE VARIOUS OF DISTRICT SEEN FROM INSIDE A HUMVEE
- Embargoed: 24th January 2017 15:08
- Keywords: Mosul advance special forces Counter Terrorism Service CTS
- Location: FURQAN AND BALADIYAT DISTRICTS, EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: FURQAN AND BALADIYAT DISTRICTS, EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0015YD10ZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqi special forces made further advances against Islamic State in Mosul on Monday (January 9), pushing militants out of another district a day after driving them back to the eastern bank of the Tigris river, a spokesman said.
The elite Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) had taken full control of the Baladiyat district and encircled neighbouring Sukkar.
"Today, we entered the Baladiyat and Sukkar district, the clearing operation is still ongoing, God willing in the next few hours we will completely clear these areas," said Lieutenant General AbdelWahad al-Saadi, commander of the CTS.
The advance also consolidated Iraqi forces' control of several districts close to the ruins of the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, east of the river.
A U.S.-backed offensive to drive Islamic State out of Mosul, its last major Iraqi stronghold, has gained momentum since the beginning of the year.
CTS forces reached the east bank of the Tigris on Sunday (January 8), an advance which will eventually enable them to begin assaults on the city's west, all of which IS still holds.
"The second convoy, which is also part of the Counter Terrorism Service, reached an area very close to the river and gained control of the fourth bridge, which separates the eastern side from the western side," said al-Saadi.
The recapture of Mosul after more than two years of Islamic State rule would probably spell the end of its self-declared caliphate, which spans areas of Iraq and Syria. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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