Iraqi Army denies reports of pause Mosul operations

The Joint Operations Command denied on Saturday reports that the operations of the right side of Mosul had been stopped, stressing that the security forces were fighting in Rijm al-Hadid area. "The operations on the right side of the city of Mosul have not stopped," the command's statement said. "The operations are currently entering a new path, and the security forces are fighting in Rijm al-Hadid area," statement read.

A spokesman for the security forces said that the Iraqi government forces stopped their offensive to regain control of western Mosul from ISIS organization, on Saturday, because of the high rate of civilian deaths and injuries.

Iraqi government forces recaptured eastern Mosul in January and launched an offensive in February to recapture the western region.Iraqi troops are currently working to retake central Mosul districts from IS militants, specifically eyeing the city’s grand mosque where the group’s self-styled “Caliphate” was declared in 2014.

Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition generals have admitted that battles in western Mosul were much more difficult due to the region’s high population and the complex structure of its residential areas.

Local officials and residents said on Thursday dozens of people had been buried under collapsed buildings after an air strike on a dodger caused a huge explosion last week.

The deputy commander-in-chief of the US coalition told Reuters on Friday the solution might be to change tactics. The General John Richardson said the Iraqi army was considering opening another front and isolating the old neighborhood where hardliners were fiercely opposed.

The Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights said there were unconfirmed reports of the deaths of nearly 700 civilians in air strikes by government and coalition or acts of violence by ISIS since the start of the offensive on western Mosul on 19 February. Militants used car bombs, snipers and mortars to counter the attack. They are stationed in homes for residents of Mosul to shoot at Iraqi forces, often requiring air strikes or artillery fire, in which civilians are killed.

On the other hand,  the Speaker of the House of Representatives Salim al-Jubouri, on Saturday, called the members of parliament for an emergency meeting to discuss the tragedy of the new Mosul, next Tuesday. 

"The attempts at partition have failed and we are more united than ever before," Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi told reporters during his meeting with leaders of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

"The victories of extremist elements would not have been possible without the sacrifice of the PMF with the rest of the armed forces, "he said.

"Our forces are very keen on the security of citizens during its war with ISIS, which uses the car bombs, he added.