- Title: Iraqi forces advance towards Mosul's Old City as civilians flee fighting
- Date: 30th May 2017
- Summary: MOSUL, IRAQ (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF IRAQ'S RAPID RESPONSE FORCE FIRING MORTARS IN AL-ZINJILI DISTRICT VARIOUS OF RAPID RESPONSE FORCE INSIDE COMMAND ROOM LOOKING AT SCREENS SHOWING BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF AREA, SOLDIERS GIVING COORDINATES FOR PLANES TO BOMB RAPID RESPONSE FORCE MEMBERS FIRING MORTARS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BRIGADIER GENERAL OF RAPID RESPONSE FORCE, ABBAS AL-JIBOURI, SAYING; "We have almost recaptured one third of al-Zinjili district. The main problem which faces us is the use of the civilians as human shields by the terrorist group. With the help of God we have opened safe corridors for the civilians fleeing fighting areas." VARIOUS OF CROWDS OF CIVILIANS LEAVING AL-ZINJILI, SOLDIERS ESCORTING THEM VARIOUS OF CIVILIANS AT HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE GATHERED BY IRAQI SECURITY FORCES BEFORE BEING EVACUATED FROM DISTRICT FAMILIES WITH THEIR CHILDREN SITTING, MAN HELPING CHILD DRINK WATER GROUP OF MEN WAITING FOR SECURITY FORCES TO EVACUATE THEM (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN FROM AL-ZINJILI SAYING: "We have just fled home. We have been trapped inside the house." JOURNALIST ASKING "How was your condition?" "The situation was very bad. We were afraid and were locked up in one room of the house. They (Islamic State) raided our home and locked us up in one room. We cannot believe that we have fled, thanks God". RUBBLE AND WRECKAGE OF CAR, IRAQI ARMOURED VEHICLE PARKED VARIOUS OF DAMAGED CARS
- Embargoed: 13th June 2017 15:43
- Keywords: Old City Islamic State famiilies civilians al-Zinjili district al-Nuri Mosque
- Location: MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0016J15YRR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqi forces shelled Mosul's western district of al-Zinjili with mortars on Tuesday (May 30) as part of operation to capture the last Islamic State-held enclave in the city's historic area.
Brigadier General Abbas al-Jibouri of the Rapid Response Force said that the troops have so far recaptured one third of the district, but that Islamic State were using civilians as human shields.
A woman fleeing the fighting said they had been trapped inside a house where Islamic State kept them locked in one room.
The fall of the city would, in effect, mark the end of the Iraqi half of the "caliphate" declared nearly three years ago by Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, which also covers parts of Syria. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None