Politics
15:18, 21-Jul-2017
Iraqi security forces hunt extremist militants in districts near Mosul’s Old City
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Iraq’s security forces have started house-to-house searches in districts near Mosul’s Old City, as they look to weed out so-called ISIL sleeper cells, CGTN reports.
A military commander announced the new operation, outlining that the country’s elite counter terrorism service, was searching homes and checking people’s identification documents to flush out any remaining threats.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally declared the liberation of Iraq’s second largest city on July 10, saying it was finally clear of ISIL militants.
The announcement came nine months after the large scale operation began.
Situated 400 kilometers north of the capital Baghdad, Mosul first fell to ISIL hands in June 2014, when government forces fled the city and ultimately gave up control of Iraq’s northern, and western regions.