Reports from Iraq indicate that military operations in eastern Mosul have been halted due to "bad weather conditions," but forces are advancing from the south towards Mosul, albeit at a slow pace. A spokesman for the Shiite militia Hashd al-Shaabi announced on Wednesday, November 3, that these forces have taken control of a highway connecting ISIS forces to Raqqa in Syria, the capital of the Islamic State group. According to the Associated Press, Jaafar al-Husseini, a spokesman for Hashd al-Shaabi and commander of the Hezbollah Brigade, stated that his forces have cut off this highway, which was a supply line for ISIS in Mosul. Hashd al-Shaabi forces claim to have liberated the urban areas of Kokajli and al-Samakh in eastern Mosul from ISIS control. Second Lieutenant Mohand al-Tamimi of the Iraqi Special Forces reported that his units killed six ISIS militants inside a tunnel, while two others were killed as they approached government forces, one of whom was wearing an explosive vest. Meanwhile, hundreds of civilians fled the al-Samakh area, holding white cloths. General Abdul Amir Rashid Yarallah, commander of the Nineveh operations, stated that the Iraqi Federal Police have retaken four villages near Hammam al-Alil. On Wednesday, Iraqi special forces began clearing explosive traps and munitions in Kokajli, with a curfew imposed in the area during the operation. On the other hand, a Norwegian aid group warned that the lives of over one million citizens under the control of the Islamic State in Mosul are in serious danger amid the fighting. According to this aid group active in Iraq, nearly 18,000 people have managed to flee Mosul in the two weeks since the start of the Nineveh operation. Meanwhile, Major General Haidar Fadhil, a commander of the Iraqi special forces, announced that the advance in eastern Mosul was halted on Wednesday due to bad weather conditions. Fadhil stated that due to fog and clouds, it was not possible for aircraft and drones to fly that day. Iraqi forces managed to penetrate the outskirts of Mosul for the first time in two years on Tuesday.
Advancement in the Southern Front of Mosul; Iraqi Forces Halted in the Eastern Front
Iraqi military operations in eastern Mosul have been halted due to bad weather, while forces are making slow advances from the south. Hashd al-Shaabi has cut off a key supply route for ISIS and liberated urban areas. The humanitarian situation remains dire for civilians trapped in Mosul.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iraqi forces have halted operations in eastern Mosul due to bad weather but are advancing slowly from the south. Key supply routes for ISIS have been cut off, and several areas have been liberated.
- Hashd al-Shaabi forces cut off a highway connecting ISIS in Mosul to Raqqa.
- Iraqi special forces halted due to bad weather, affecting air support.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Mosul has been under ISIS control since 2014, and its recapture is vital for dismantling the group's territorial hold in Iraq.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%