The militants of the international terrorist organization “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in Russia) used against the Iraqi military in Mosul commercial drones quadcopters. On Saturday, February 25, writes The Wall Street Journal.
With the help of the aircraft, according to the newspaper, the Islamists on the military dropping grenades. Quadcopters, as noted, may with sufficient accuracy to put live ordnance from a height of about 300 metres. In addition, the militants are using these devices to attack civilians and humanitarian workers.
“The problem with the drones we are concerned. While we have no technical means to stop militants”, — said the representative of the Iraqi army, Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul. To counter quadcopters soldiers use high-tech gadgets that can detect them using radio waves. However, as noted, such devices are insufficient and the military has had to shoot virtually silent aircraft machine guns.
Earlier on Saturday it was reported that in Iraq found a mass grave with four thousand bodies. It is the largest mass grave in the country. The militants of the IG began to use the naturally formed crater in the area Hasfa for burial almost immediately after it took control of Mosul in 2014.
On 24 February, the Iraqi government forces took full control of Mosul airport and a nearby military camp, located in ISIS-controlled Western part of the city. In addition, the army managed to recapture the main city power plant.
About the beginning of the attack on Western Mosul, Prime Minister of Iraq Haidar al-Abadi announced on February 19. A month earlier the military completely liberated the Eastern part of the city.
Mosul is the unofficial capital of ISIS in Iraq. Ground military operation to liberate the city began on 17 October 2016. It involves units of the regular Iraqi army, the Kurdish militia and formation of volunteers. The international coalition led by the US is providing air and artillery support.