13 Iraqi soldiers killed in Daesh ambush in Mosul

By Mohamed Walid and Serhad Shaker

NINEVEH, Iraq

At least 13 Iraqi soldiers were killed in a Daesh ambush in western Mosul on Sunday, an Iraqi officer said.

Scores of Daesh militants attacked Iraqi forces, shortly after the latter seized control of Tibb al-Mosul town in the city's western side, the Rapid Response officer said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

"It was a trap," the officer said. "Iraqi troops were forced to withdraw from the town to avoid incurring heavy losses."

Sunday's losses came one day after Iraqi forces launched an operation to capture the last Daesh pocket in western Mosul.

Since October 2016, Iraqi forces launched a large-scale military operation to clear Daesh from Mosul, the last main stronghold of the terrorist group in Iraq.