MOSUL // US-backed Iraqi forces captured the second of Mosul’s five bridges on Monday, giving a boost to their oush to retake the city’s western parts from ISIL.
All of Mosul’s five bridges over the Tigris River have been destroyed but the capture of their ruins facilitates the movement of forces progressing alongside the river, which cuts the city in two.
The bridge seized, Al Hurriya, is the second after one located further south. Its capture shields the back of the forces advancing toward a nearby government buildings complex.
“We control the western end of the bridge,” said a senior media officer with the interior ministry’s elite Rapid Response Unit, which is leading the charge toward the complex.
Recapturing the complex would help Iraqi forces attack the militants in the old city. It would also mark a symbolic step towards restoring state authority over Mosul, even though the buildings are destroyed and not being used by ISIL.
The battle for Mosul, which started on October 17, will enter a more complicated phase in the densely populated old city.
Civilians have been displaced in greater numbers in recent days, as the fighting rages in the middle of residential neighborhoods where populations have already been suffering for months from food, water and electricity shortages.
Iraqi forces captured the eastern side of Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting and launched their attack on the districts that lie west of the Tigris on February 19.
“In the coming hours our forces will raise the Iraqi flag over the governorate building,” said federal police Brigadier General Shaalan Ali Saleh.
The militants have barricaded streets with civilian vehicles and rigged them with explosives to hinder the advance of Iraqi forces who were also met with sniper, machinegun and mortar fire, as well as explosives dropped from light drones.
Federal police units who are also taking part in the offensive are using similar drones to hit the militants.
The Iraqi military believes several thousand militants, including many who traveled from western and central Asian countries, are among west Mosuk’s remaining civilian population, which aid agencies estimated to number 750,000 at the start of the latest offensive.
* Reuters
The years Ramadan fell in May
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
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ENGLAND SQUAD
Joe Root (captain), Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad
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The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
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What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
Company Profile
Company name: OneOrder
Started: October 2021
Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Industry: technology, logistics
Investors: A15 and self-funded