Hashd Al-Shaabi Takes Full Control of ISIS's Mosul-Raqqa Roads

Commander of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces Hadi al-Ameri said volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) have seized full control of the ISIS-controlled roads linking the city of Mosul in Iraq to Raqqa in Syria.  "We have expanded control over the strategic Tal al-Zalat intersection and seized control over vital roads and supply routes, including Tal Afar-al-Mohlabieh-Mosul road," al-Ameri, who is also the Badr Organization Secretary General, said on Saturday.   He noted that volunteer forces have also imposed control over the strategic Tal Abteh to al-Baaj road which was the most important route of the ISIL to Syria.  The Iraqi volunteer forces have started fresh military operations in the Western part of Mosul to cut off ISIL's supply routes between Mosul and Raqqa.  Iraq's joint military forces also took control of Street 30 in al-Entesar district to the Southeast of Mosul city.  Iraqi Federal Police Commander Major General Shaker Judat in a statement announced that since the beginning of Iraq's joint military forces' operations in the Southern part of Mosul city, over 1,000 terrorists have been killed, 74 villages have been recaptured, 130 bombs been defused and 4,500 families have managed to leave the city.   Meantime, Commander of Iraq's Counterterrorism Department Abdul Ghani al-Assadi said that his forces managed to advance in Mosul much quicker than expected, adding, "The ISIL terrorists might have escaped to their main headquarters in the Western bank of Tigris river." He underlined that the ISIL's defense lines in the Eastern part of Mosul have been much vulnerable than their defense lines the city of Ramadi.  Iraq's joint military forces have recently ushered in massive operations to seize back Mosul city. Mosul is the ISIL's last bastion in Iraq and seizing back the city will make the ISIL to sustain a heavy defeat.  On Friday, the Iraqi popular forces said that they have thus far liberated over 45 villages West of Mosul as they continue their offensive against ISIL's positions towards the town of Tal Afar.  Mohammad al-Basri, one of the field commanders of Iraqi popular forces told FNA that over 45 villages have been liberated and the volunteer forces have captured over 350 sq/km of territories West of Mosul towards Tal Afar.   "Based on the previously agreed plan between Baghdad and Damascus, the ISIL terrorists fleeing Mosul can be pursued in Syria," he further added.  "The large population in some villages has slowed down our forces' operation. ISIL is using civilians as human shield in Mosul and other regions."  The Iraqi Federal police command confirmed on Thursday that its forces liberated 10 villages South of Mosul as they continued their operation to capture the Northern city from ISIL militants.  “The outcome of the military operations conducted by the federal police troops in the Southern flanks of Mosul, has included the liberation of Al-Mincar, Bazonah,  Poglawin, Kharrar, Ain Shalhoub, Al-Kusbah, Al-Khafsan, Al-Qahira, Munira and Nazazah villages South of Hamam al-Alil district,” Federal Police Commander Gen.  Raed Shakir Jawdat said, Badr News reported.  The operation to retake Mosul from the ISIL has been ongoing since October 17.  More than 30,000 Iraqi and 4,000 Kurdish fighters are taking part in the offensive, backed by about 5,000 US troops and supported by US-led coalition airstrikes.  Mosul has been occupied by the ISIL since 2014.  The Iraqi push to drive terrorists out of their main stronghold has recently met with fierce resistance. The Iraqi armed forces are receiving air support from a US-led international coalition, which reportedly killed further 149 ISIL members earlier this wee