COMMANDOS TAKE TWO MOSUL NEIGHBOURHOODS

Iraqi militarized police captured two neighbourhoods on the western side of Mosul on Sunday amid fierce clashes with ISIL militants, as thousands of people continued to flee the battle to government-controlled areas, security officials said.

Iraqi forces, backed by aerial support by the U.S.-led international coalition, launched a new push last week to drive ISIL militants from Mosul’s west, capturing so far the city’s international airport and an adjacent military base. Iraqi authorities declared Mosul’s eastern half “fully liberated” from the Sunni militants in January, three months after launching the operation to take back Iraq’s second-largest city.

At dawn Sunday, the Federal Police Commandos Division moved into the Tayaran neighbourhood amid fierce clashes, Maj. Gen. Haider al-Maturi said. The neighbourhood “is now under their full control,” he said.

Al-Maturi said ISIL militants deployed at least 10 suicide car bombs, but nine of them were blown up before reaching their targets. The 10th killed two policemen and wounded five.

Further west, Iraqi special forces captured the Mamun neighbourhood by early Sunday afternoon, Brig. Gen. Haider Fadhil of the special forces said. Fadhil said ISIL militants attacked the advancing troops with more than 15 suicide car bombs, but all were blown up before hitting the troops.

AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP / GETTY IMAGES Members of Iraqi forces take cover as they advance toward Dindan neighbourhood in the western half of Mosul.