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In Iraq, the fighting against the Islamic State group continues. On Wednesday, security forces and their allied paramilitary unit said they have completely encircled the city of Mosul.
"Mosul has been completely blocked from all governorates. On the western side almost every road that leads to other cities is now blocked. The only road left is between Tal Afar and Mosul," said Commander Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, Popular Mobilization Unit.
"Our goal is to cut off all roads to the western side. This is the most important step until now. From the north there is the Peshmerga barricaded lines and the east is also blocked."
ISIL claims control over parts of town near Mosul
The predominantly Shi'ite Popular Mobilization Unit has reached the town of Tal Afar, some 70 kilometers west of Mosul. The latest advance would also enable them to secure the border areas between Iraq and neighboring Syria. It would cut off the ISIL supply routes between Mosul and the Syrian city of Raqqa, the capital of the group's self-declared caliphate.
But the Jihadist group is claiming they have taken control of parts of a town close to north of Mosul. Amateur video was uploaded to social media by ISIL's news agency. It shows militants after they had seized tents and military equipment.
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