JINHA

NEWS CENTER- A long-awaited operation for Mosul has been launched in Xazır region.

According to Rojnews, the operation to liberate Mosul began in Xazır region, Easten of Mosul, today at 5:30 a.m. A source of the Peshmerga forces said, “All preparations have been completed. Operation begins.”

Meanwhile, many US soldiers have been deployed on the Zerdek Mount located 40 kilometers of Mosul. US artillery units are shelling Mosul Plain. Drone activity over Mosul Plain has begun.

Fighter aircrafts of international coalition forces have bombarded Mosul city and around the city intensively for two days. According to reports received, Daesh set fire to the oil filled in holes, which were dug around Mosul in order to prevent the sight of aircrafts and smoke rises from the region.

General Command of the armed forces of the Kurdistan Region indicated that four thousand Peshmerga fighters participated in the operation will take advance from three fronts in order to liberate the villages of Xazir. Iraq Prime Minister Haydar Ebadi made a statement on state television and said they launched the operation to liberate Mosul from Daesh and only military and police forces would enter the city center.

(fk/gd)