Iraqi forces kill 32 extremists near Nouri mosque

Iraqi military forces killed 32 extremists, including the leaders of ISIS organization who carrying Arab nationalities, following an air strike on the right side of the city of Mosul, while the federal police announced the destruction of 60% of ISIS sites in the vicinity of the Nouri mosque. Meanwhile, intelligence sources in the city of Mosul said that there are sharp differences between the leaders of ISIS on the nomination of  "Abu Hafsa Al-Mosuli" to replace Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the extremist organization.

The sources pointed out that the leaders of ISIS split between supporters and opponents, to nominate the successor of Al-Mosuli to replace al-Baghdadi, and appeared those divisions and differences clear, within their ranks, especially on the right side. These differences increased after news that confirms the exposure of Baghdadi to severe injuries in an air strike targeting a meeting in Qaim.

The Iraqi Ministry of Defense said that based on the information of the directorate of military intelligence, the International Alliance jets targeted the headquarters of leaders in Mosul. The airstrike killed 32 terrorists, including Adnan al-Jubouri, the military commander of the so-called "Jaish al-Osra."

Civilians who attempted escaping from Islamic State-held regions before and during battles between Iraqi troops and IS militants cannot find safe passageways as they always face attacks by the IS militants, according to the Iraqi Observatory for Human Rights (IOHR)

At least 25 civilians have been killed since beginning of April on Abu Zaayan street, which is considered as one of the “safe routes” opened by Iraqi troops, IOHR said in a report on Sunday.

The report quoted Abu Omar al-Hayali, a displaced resident from western Mosul who took to Abu Zaayan street, along with his and other families, to escape toward the troops, as saying “once we attempted escaping the IS-held regions, the snipers started targeting civilians.”

“I saw a man and a woman in their twenties as they were shot dead by a sniper,” he said. “My family and I took shelter for twenty minutes behind a concrete wall to hide from the sniper. We were then able to pass the dangerous area with the help of Iraqi troops.”

A journalist from Mosul, identifying himself with the pen-name Safaa Omar, told IOHR that the “safe passageways, that are still exposed to IS fires, are Nineveh public hospital route on al-Mahatta street and abu Zaayan street.”

Meanwhile IOHR said that “Iraqi security troops make huge efforts to help civilians escape the battlefields, but they face the IS snipers. The troops assist dozens of families daily to reach safe places, however, some get killed or injured by bombs, mortar missiles or snipers.”

A medical source, who offer urgent treatment for families displaced from the western side, said “treatment is offered daily to more than fifty wounded persons who were injured during the displacement.”

“The children are the highest category with injuries. The escaping families are not aware of the routes they should take as all of them are targeted,” the source added.

Hakam Khaled, an activist from Mosul, said “a child called Ali Omar, 10, was escaping along with his family from Mosul al-Jadida when a booby-trapped vehicle exploded. Six members of his family were killed. Still alive, his left leg was amputated. He is now at West Erbil hospital.”

A worker from West Erbil hospital said “the hospital received hundreds of injured civilians over the past few weeks. Some of them lost their limbs or were severely injured during the displacement. There were also number of victims killed by IS members.”

The “safe passageways” opened by Iraqi troops, according to IOHR, should be completely safe and protected.

The observatory also urged the Iraqi government to pay more attention toward safety of the civilians to prevent further loss of victims.