The Iraqi security forces have began an offensive against the so-called Islamic State in effort to drive the terrorists out of the western city.
The forces also invaded the al-Ghazlani military camp where a fierce battle was staged, reported the Associated Press.
Even though ISIS has already destroyed the runway, gaining control of this large site would be a great boost for the Iraqi forces to be in charge of the southern routes into Mosul, reports BBC.
The U.S.-backed Iraqi security forces managed to retake eastern Mosul last month. Having managed this huge milestone, the Iraqi forces focus is now on capturing the airport and using it as stepping stone to attack the west of Iraq’s second-largest city. This is seen as ISIS’s most powerful basement after being ousted out of its previous territories.
The country’s elite Rapid Response unit and the Counterterrorism service (CTS) troops are reported to have stormed the airport on Thursday night.
Once ISIS loose Mosul, the reign of the group’s existence in Iraq could be on the verge of collapsing.
This campaign, one of the largest so far in efforts to defeat ISIS, involves 100,000 forces of Iraqi troops, Kurdish fighters and Shi’ite militias.
The military officials report that the forces have at the start of this year introduced new tactics and coordination methodologies to advance the offensive.
