Iraqi forces have repelled a series of Daesh suicide bombing attacks in west Mosul, permitting the city’s inhabitants to celebrate their first Eid al-Fitr without the terrorists' presence.
On Sunday, the Iraqi military thwarted a series of Daesh bombing attacks in west Mosul’s Hay al-Tanak neighborhood.
“The security forces blocked a violent attack carried out by (people wearing) explosive belts, in Hay al-Tanak," said a statement released by the Iraqi army.
Iraqi army soldiers and volunteer fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units, commonly known by their Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi, have made sweeping gains against Daesh since launching the Mosul operation on October 17, 2016.
The Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19. A senior commander announced on Sunday that Iraqi forces have so far managed to liberate two thirds of Mosul’s Old City from the grip of the terrorists. Estimates show though that less than 350 Daesh terrorists, mostly non-Iraqis, are still in the city.
It was the first time since 2014, when Daesh overran Mosul, that the city’s population were able to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.
