Iraqi forces has launched a new offensive to retake western Mosul from ISIS, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Sunday morning.
“We announce the start of a new phase in the operation, we are coming to Nineveh to liberate the western side of Mosul,” Abadi said in a brief televised address, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital, AFP quoted.
“Our forces are beginning the liberation of the citizens from the terror of Daesh,” Abadi added.
On Saturday, Iraqi aircraft dropped millions of leaflets in western Mosul, calling on residents to get ready to welcome the Iraqi troops as they continue the siege on the militants.
“Your armed forces... are advancing in the direction of the right side, relying on God. Get ready to welcome the sons of your armed forces and to cooperate with them, as your brothers on the left side have done, in order to reduce losses and speed up the conclusion” of the battle, one of the leaflets read, as cited by Reuters.
Other leaflets were aimed at ISIS militants, urging them to “lay down their weapons and surrender,” according to the defense ministry’s statement.
The latest operation to free the city from the terrorists began on October 17. After months of fighting, the army managed to secure the east bank of the city last month. The densely-populated west bank of Mosul is now the operation's target.
Around 750,000 people remain in western Mosul, according to UN estimates. Electricity, food, and water shortages have placed the population on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.
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