Iraqi forces make fresh advances in a sixth day of operations to retake the city of Mosul from ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

Iraqi allied troops entered the Keremles district of the Qayyarah town and liberated two nearby villages.

Daesh militants launched a bombing attack on the al-Hamdaniya town, also known as Qaraqosh, as troops moved to wrest its control from the terrorists. The terrorists also blew up the Ninevah Oberoi Hotel, one of the province’s biggest hotels.

Iraqi troops managed to liberate Hamdaniya’s central area, including its hospital, raising the national flag atop its buildings and retaking the province’s al-Askariyah district, Prime Minister Heider al-Abadi said.

Parliament Speaker Salim Abdullah al-Jabouri also said Iraqi forces had raided the Safinah village in Nineveh’s al-Shourah district. The village is situated parallel to the Tigris River, and is of much strategic importance.

Intense fighting broke out near the village of Tel Al-Samen south of Mosul. ISIL militants continue to occupy nearby villages, while improvised explosive devices hamper the army’s progress.

Officials said Iraqi troops are now turning their attention to recapturing Hammam al-Alil, close to Tel Al-Samen.

Source: Press TV