The militants of the terrorist group “Islamic state” (IG, is prohibited in Russia) moved its headquarters from Mosul in the Iraqi province of al-Hawija. This was reported by RIA Novosti source in the security forces of Kirkuk.
“All the leaders of the IG moved from Mosul to Hawija located 55 kilometers West of Kirkuk. The headquarters was moved there because of the imminent collapse of the group in the Old city of Mosul,” the source said.
Hawija is held by fighters in 2014. To capture terrorists, the city’s population numbered about 500 thousand people.
The Governor of Kirkuk province, Najmaddin Karim said that the operation against ISIS in the town of Hawija will start only after the complete liberation of Mosul and areas in Anbar province on the border with Jordan and Syria.
4 may it was reported that the Iraqi army launched an offensive against militants in Mosul from the North. “In the first hours our troops had developed a high rate of advance, the front of the Islamists is broken, they retreat,” said army spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasoul.
The operation to liberate the Western part of Mosul under way since February this year. In operations involving ground units of the Iraqi army, special forces and militias. Air support provided by the aircraft of the international coalition led by the United States. In late March, Iraqi security forces have decided to suspend massive attack due to the increased number of casualties, however, on April 14, the battle for the center of the city resumed. At the end of April, the Iraqi army has announced that it plans to finally clean up Mosul in June.