Iraqi aerial operations kill 93 Daeshis in Mosul

On Sunday, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense released footage in which Iraqi planes and choppers can be seen engaging Daesh in west Mosul.

"Our helicopters took off in the early hours of the start of the battle to back up the troops of Hashd al-Sha'abi (Popular Mobilization Units) and carried out 22 sorties. They made marvelous results. They were able to kill 93 Daesh militants and destroyed 18 military and armored vehicles which were being used by Islamic State," said Iraqi Army Aviation Commander Lieutenant General Hamid al-Maliki.

Meanwhile, Commander of Nineveh Liberation Operation Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah announced that Iraqi forces had regained control over Kantirah and Abyadh villages, south of Albu Seif village on the outskirts of Mosul.

Earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of operations to liberate the western flank of the flashpoint city of Mosul from the grip of the Takfiri Daesh terrorist group.

The east side of the city was liberated from Daesh earlier in January as part of massive operations launched on October 17, 2016, to rid the city of the terrorists who captured it in 2014.

Daesh began its campaign of terror in northern and western Iraq in 2014. Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters are leading military operations to win back militant-held regions, trying to eliminate terrorists or driving them out of their country.