Iraqi Forces Shoot down 3 ISIS Drones & Kill 35 Terrorists

At least 35 members of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group were killed and three their drones were shot down in Mosul on Thursday.

Photo: AFP

The Iraqi Forces shot down three drones of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, as well as killed 35 members of the group in Mosul on Thursday, the Iraqi police and the paramilitary forces announced, adding that the operation to recapture the city from the IS is still ongoing.

According to services of the federal police, three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) of the IS were shot down before they managed to attack security locations in the eastern section of Mosul.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Alsumaria News TV-network reported, citing an unnamed local source, that at least 35 IS terrorists, including Abu Qaswara al-Shami, a senior recruitment agent of the group, were killed by al-Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), to the west of Mosul, when militants tried to attack PMU’s positions, located near the strategic town of Tal Afar.

Earlier this week, Iraqi commanders announced that 60 percent of the eastern section of Mosul has been recaptured by the Iraqi Forces. They also added that the IS still maintains hideouts in the west, close to its strongholds in Syria, but the terrorist group is currently isolated from Syria and Iraq.

According to Iraqi security officials, there are about 6,000 IS terrorists in the area now, while the number of government and militia soldiers has been estimated by 100,000 people.

In December, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that the battle for Mosul was entering its “decisive” stage, and suggested that the operation could turn into final victory within two months.