Iraq’s military said Friday it had killed close to 800 terrorists of the so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ terrorist group since Oct. 17 in the ongoing offensive to recapture the northern city of Mosul.

The Iraqi army, backed by US-led coalition airstrikes, recently launched a much-anticipated operation to liberate Mosul, the last ISIL stronghold in northern Iraq.

In a statement, Iraq’s operations command announced that at least 772 ISIL gunmen were killed and 87 villages and areas were taken from the extremist organization so far.

According to the statement, at least 23 terrorists were taken alive. Almost 130 explosive-laden vehicles, 27 mortar shells and 397 explosive devices were also seized.

ISIL took Mosul — Iraq’s second-largest city — in mid-2014 before overrunning additional territory in the country’s northern and western regions.

Although the Iraqi army and its local allies have since recovered much territory, the extremist group remains in control of Mosul plus several parts of western Anbar province.

Source: Websites