MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016

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MOSUL: Iraqi children, one flashing the sign of victory, greet Iraqi army’s soldiers from the 9th armored division in the area of Ali Rash, adjacent to the eastern Al-Intissar neighborhood of during a military operation to retake the main hub city from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists. — AFP Mosul battle rages as resistance falters IS bombings around country leave 20 dead

MOSUL: ’s special forces worked Sunday to clear neigh- acronym for the IS group. The extremists meanwhile struck borhoods on the eastern edge of Islamic State-held Mosul far from the front lines with a series of bombings. The dead- as bombings launched by the extremist group elsewhere in liest attack took place in the city of Samarra, 60 miles north the country killed at least 20 people. The Mosul offensive of , which is home to a major Shiite shrine. has slowed in recent days as Iraqi forces have pushed into Provincial spokesman Ali Al-Hamdani said the attacker set more densely populated areas, where they cannot rely as off a bomb-packed ambulance in a parking lot near Shiite much on airstrikes and shelling because of the risk posed to pilgrims before detonating his explosives vest. The attack civilians, who have been told to stay in their homes. “There killed 11 people, including at least four Iranians, and wound- are a lot of civilians and we are trying to protect them,” said ed up to 100 other people. Lt Col Muhanad Al-Timimi. “This is one of the hardest battles that we’ve faced till now.” Suicide attacks Some civilians are fleeing the combat zone, while IS Another suicide attacker rammed an explosives-laden militants are holding others back for use as human car into a busy checkpoint outside the city of Tikrit, killing at shields, making it harder for Iraqi commanders on the least nine people. Al-Hamdani said five female students, a ground to get approval for requested U.S.-led coalition air woman and three policemen were killed in the attack, while strikes. Iraq’s Special Forces are some of the country’s 25 others were wounded. IS had also captured Tikrit during best troops, but they still largely rely on air support to its lightning blitz across Iraq in the summer of 2014. Iraqi clear terrain. Iraqi forces first entered the eastern edge of forces drove the militants from the city, around 80 miles the city on Tuesday. On Friday, forces began pushing into north of Baghdad, in April 2015. Mosul proper, but so far have advanced just over a kilo- Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Bahram Ghasemi, meter (mile) into the city. condemned the two attacks, which he said had killed 21 On the southern front, Iraqi forces are still some 12 miles people, including 10 Iranian pilgrims, the semi-official Mehr from the city center. The fighting is centered on the town of news agency reported. It was not immediately possible to Hamam Al-Alil, where Associated Press journalists could reconcile the conflicting tolls, which are common in the hear gunfire and saw attack helicopters firing on IS posi- chaotic aftermath of attacks. In an online statement, IS tions. Kurdish fighters launched mortar rounds claimed all three bombings and said the ambulance bomb and fired heavy artillery at the IS-held town of Bashiqa, was set off by a second suicide attacker. The AP could not about 8 miles northeast of Mosul. The town, which is verify the authenticity of the statement, which was posted believed to be largely empty except for IS militants, has on a militant website commonly used by the extremists. been encircled by Kurdish forces. In the capital, Baghdad, a series of smaller bombings The extremists captured Mosul and surrounding areas in killed at least 10 people and wounded 21 others, according 2014, and have had plenty of time to dig trenches, block off to police and medical officials, who spoke on condition of roads and mine approaches to the city. “Daesh dug trenches anonymity because they were not authorized to brief that they filled with water and they have a lot of suicide reporters. No one immediately claimed the attacks, but they attackers and car bombs,” said Al-Timimi, using the Arabic bore the hallmarks of IS. — AP

Iraqi forces battle bombs with drones

SALAHIYAH: On the Mosul front lines, Iraqi forces have engage on the ground, the jihadists’ weapon of choice is found a new tool to counter the Islamic State group’s sui- the suicide . cide car bombs: Small commercial drones. “It’s a car bomb!” Mohammed Salih alerted his forces after checking the live ‘Not real men’ feed from a drone his men were flying over the area, on They have unleashed dozens of them every week since the Mosul battle’s southern front. the start of the offensive against Mosul on October 17, A few seconds later, a large plume of smoke rose up inflicting casualties on Iraqi forces although the authorities where an attack helicopter had fired two rockets and taken have not provided any figures. “Some of them fight and die out the explosives-laden vehicle that was heading straight but others run away-these are not real men,” Ali, a 25-year- for his men. The dust had not yet settled when another old fighter from the division’s commando unit, said. He threat materialized on the drone’s monitor. “There are four thumbed bullets into six magazines for his M-16 assault rifle. Daesh (IS) members on your right-hand side. They are not “I’m determined to use all of them and I have more in stock,” friendlies, repeat, not friendlies,” Salih said. he said with a grin. Ali’s mood changed when he pulled up a Men of the Iraqi army’s 15th division were advancing picture of a smiling young man on his mobile phone. “He through Salahiyah village, on the edge of Hamam Al-Alil, was my friend. The day before yesterday, they blew up his one of the main targets on the vast southern front. The Humvee with a guided missile. He burned to death inside drone flew over enemy lines and landed back on the roof the vehicle,” he said. of the village school, which sits atop a hill overlooking The 15th division moved towards Hamam Al-Ali, despite the plain and has been turned into a temporary com- intensifying fire from IS and the seemingly endless detona- mand centre. “This drone allows us to reconnoitre the tions of roadside bombs. Helicopters flying overhead fired area, spot the enemy’s movements and direct our soldiers missiles at IS positions dozens of times to open the way for more efficiently towards their targets so we can destroy army convoys. The first wounded soldier was brought in them,” Salih said. with a hole in each thigh from the same bullet, his own The toy-like device is barely wider than a foot and is blood running down his rifle barrel. The drone’s latest infor- available in shops or online for around $600, or less than mation was inconclusive: were the men spotted about 600 the latest iPhone. It has a camera, four rotors and is guid- meters from the village mosque IS militants or his own fight- ed with a joystick connected to a tablet that feeds images ers? “We need to check this out,” Salih said, walking over to that can be shot from an altitude of more than 150 the site with his red beret but no protective gear. His left meters. IS fighters use snipers and mortars when Iraqi elbow still had pins sticking out of it, following a wound sus- forces approach their positions, but when both sides tained during a previous battle. — AFP