Explosion in Baghdad Leaves at Least 23 Dead

As the battle between Iraqi forces and the Islamic State group, ISIS, continues in western Mosul, a car bomb explosion in Baghdad on Monday has left at least 23 dead. According to Reuters, police and hospital officials reported that 45 others were injured in the blast, which occurred in a Shiite neighborhood of Baghdad. The explosion took place on a busy commercial street in the 'Al-Amil' district of Baghdad. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The Islamic State group or ISIS has previously carried out similar attacks in Baghdad and other Iraqi cities. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Iraqi forces have made advances in the western part of Mosul with air support in the 'Old City' area. On the other hand, an official from the Iraqi Ministry of Interior told Reuters that during the clashes on Monday, an Iraqi colonel along with eight other officers were captured by ISIS forces. The Iraqi official, who requested anonymity, added that these forces were taken captive during the battle in the 'Old City' in western Mosul when they got very close to ISIS forces. However, a federal police official later told Reuters that these forces had been killed and government troops are trying to recover the bodies of these officers. Iraqi forces had previously regained eastern Mosul from the Islamic State after a 100-day battle with air support from a U.S.-led coalition. They also began their operations to retake western Mosul about three weeks ago. An Iraqi commander said on Sunday that so far 30 percent of western Mosul has come under government control. Earlier, Reuters reported on March 8 that according to one of the American commanders of coalition forces in Iraq, the Islamic State militants are in disarray, and their commanders and foreign members are trying to flee Mosul. Nevertheless, he stated that fierce battles are ongoing for the complete capture of Mosul. Reports indicate that the fighting over western Mosul continues while approximately 600,000 civilians are trapped in the area. Meanwhile, American and Iraqi officials have stated that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Islamic State group, 'has fled to the desert and is trying to save his life.'