WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Iraqi forces continue their advance on two remaining holdouts of the Islamic State [Daesh] terrorists (banned in Russia) in the city of Mosul after liberation of the al-Nouri mosque area, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesperson Ryan Dillon said in a briefing on Thursday.
"This morning, in a dawn assault, the Iraqi Counterterrorism Service forces pushed further into the old city successfully liberating the al-Nouri mosque area," Dillon told reporters. "The old city still remains a difficult, dense, suffocating fight."
"I see it closer to days than a week or weeks," he stated.
Dillon said the government of Iraq will decide where to move forces after the city is free, adding that the Daesh’s holdouts remain in Hawija, Tal Afar, and Al Qaim.
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said Mosul's liberation proves that the existence of the "fake" Daesh is ending.
