Brigadier-General Yahii Rasul, the representative of the Iraqi United Forces told Sputnik Arabic that forces of the 9th Armored Division of the Iraqi army, federal police and the Hashad al-Ashairi forces have taken under their control the villages of al Jamasiya, Kuneitra and al Bujuwar along the shores of the Tigris river. Daesh forces are experiencing great losses, he added.
The Iraqi army is advancing further towards Mosul and is planning to retake the villages of al Zakrutia and al Buseif.
The Iraqi forces are advancing according to plan, the brigadier-general told Sputnik.
The 9th Armored Division has liberated Bahira village to the west of Mosul, three villages along Mosul-Baghdad highway, three villages to the south of the city and has taken under control major highways leading to the city. However, these wins are only the beginning as the fighting is still ongoing, he said.
He also noted that Daesh is not putting up a strong resistance due to the heavy losses it has experienced over the last several weeks. In many cases, the terrorists simply decide to flee from their positions, leaving behind numerous mines.
On the whole, the Iraqi army is advancing pretty quickly, Yahii Rasul concluded.
