Iraqi forces kill 21 gunmen south of Mosul

By Ahmed Qassim and Serhad Shakir

NINEVEH, Iraq

At least 21 gunmen have been killed in an ongoing military operation in Iraq’s northern city of Mosul, according to an Iraqi military officer.

The operation was launched on Tuesday in southern Mosul with a view to clearing the area from remaining Daesh militants.

“A total of 21 gunmen were killed and six vehicles destroyed in the past few hours,” Army Colonel Ahmed al-Jabouri said on Wednesday.

He said caches of weapons were seized during the offensive.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Maj-Gen. Shamil al-Zamli of the Nineveh Operations Command said Iraqi helicopters struck 17 targets and strategic positions of Daesh militants in Albu-Seif village south of Mosul.

Al-Zamli said the military operation aims to purge the area from any militant presence that threatens security.

Although Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi announced the total liberation of Nineveh province from Daesh, yet, the terrorist group still has sleeper cells in some areas in the province.