Iraqi military official predicts end of Mosul battle in 3 weeks

The US-led coalition shelled sites of IS in Iraq and Syria with 11 airstrikes  Al-Qaim, Mosul, Rawa and Tal Afar, as well as 17 airstrikes  near the areas of Bu Kamal, Deir Ezzor,  Al-Raqqa and Tabaqa area in Syria.

The chief of staff of the army, Major General Othman al-Ghanmi stressed, on Friday, that the Iraqi forces will end the liberation of the right coast of Mosul within a maximum of 3 weeks, pointing out that the security forces were exposed to three chemical attacks by IS organization in Mosul.

He explained that these attacks caused a rash in the skin and was assisted in some cases and took precautions in the event of repeated chemical attacks. Al-Ghanmi stressed that the forces control 40% of the right side of Mosul, and the proportion controlled by IS estimated at 35%.

Regarding the leader of IS, Al-Ghanmi revealed that the intelligence indicates the movement on the border between Iraq and Syria on a continuous basis, denying the presence of US ground combat forces in Iraq. He added that the joint quadrilateral coordination between Iraq, Russia, Iran and Syria aims to spot the places of extremists.

Al-Ghanami said that the Turkish breach on Iraqi territory is under investigation and there are diplomatic channels opened the dialogue with the Turkish side in this regard, stressing that the Iraqi forces are preparing to block the pretexts of the Turkish side to breach Iraqi sovereignty.

The Iraqi Joint Forces announced that they managed to destroy 30 vehicles and killing 50 of IS elements, as well as the destruction of a building allocated by the organization for sniping and firing rockets at al-Mutaibaija area in Salahuddin.

On the other hand, security sources announced on Thursday the disappearance of a patrol belonging to Swat forces in a mysterious way in the eastern areas of Salahaddin province. In Anbar, a security source said that elements of the extremist organization targeted four houses for civilians in the island of Ramadi, east of Anbar province,"noting that the incident resulted in the injury of 5 civilians.