Leaflets dropped over western Mosul in advance of push

By Arif Yusuf and Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

Iraqi aircraft dropped leaflets over western Mosul early Tuesday urging civilian residents to brace for impending army operations aimed at wresting the area from the Daesh terrorist group.

"Your enemy [Daesh] has been defeated in eastern Mosul," the leaflets read. "Your armed forces are now preparing to advance on the western side [of the city]."

The leaflets also called on residents to cooperate with Iraqi military personnel with a view to limiting civilian casualties and facilitating the operation.

Iraqi Army Captain Qassem al-Rabei told Anadolu Agency that troops were currently awaiting orders to advance on western Mosul.

In October, the Iraqi army, backed by a U.S.-led air coalition and local allies on the ground, began a wide-ranging campaign to retake Mosul, which Daesh overran in mid-2014.

Last week, the Iraqi army announced the "total liberation" of eastern Mosul -- after three months of fighting -- from the grip of the terrorist group.

By Arif Yusuf and Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

Iraqi aircraft dropped leaflets over western Mosul early Tuesday urging civilian residents to brace for impending army operations aimed at wresting the area from the Daesh terrorist group.

"Your enemy [Daesh] has been defeated in eastern Mosul," the leaflets read. "Your armed forces are now preparing to advance on the western side [of the city]."

The leaflets also called on residents to cooperate with Iraqi military personnel with a view to limiting civilian casualties and facilitating the operation.

Iraqi Army Captain Qassem al-Rabei told Anadolu Agency that troops were currently awaiting orders to advance on western Mosul.

In October, the Iraqi army, backed by a U.S.-led air coalition and local allies on the ground, began a wide-ranging campaign to retake Mosul, which Daesh overran in mid-2014.

Last week, the Iraqi army announced the "total liberation" of eastern Mosul -- after three months of fighting -- from the grip of the terrorist group.