Iraqi Army Forces Reach Near the Tigris River in Central Mosul

Recent reports from the battle against the Islamic State in Iraq indicate that the country's army forces have approached the Tigris River in central Mosul, and the control of extremist militants has been largely confined to the western part of the city. Meanwhile, a bomb explosion in Baghdad early Sunday claimed the lives of at least 12 people. According to Reuters, special forces of the Iraqi army, parallel to the advances of government allied forces, reached near the Tigris on Saturday, January 18. Reuters states that ISIS has lost more than half of its controlled areas and has been pushed back to the western regions of the city. The news agency reports that if the Tigris is fully controlled, the militants of the so-called Islamic State will be in a much more difficult position to continue their conquest of the city. John Dorian, a spokesperson for the anti-ISIS coalition, tweeted that ISIS militants have severely damaged one of the five bridges over the river; an action that, according to this military official, indicates their 'deterioration' in the face of ongoing defeats. The Rudaw news network also reported that, according to reports from inside the city, the number of killed Islamic State forces has increased, and their 'morale has significantly weakened due to lack of access to equipment and supplies, as well as necessary routes for regrouping.' These recent advances come as the Prime Minister of Iraq and his Turkish counterpart announced in Baghdad that the two countries have taken steps to resolve disagreements regarding the presence of Turkish military forces in northern Iraq, and these disputes will be resolved in the near future. Additionally, a bomb explosion early Sunday, January 19, in Baghdad claimed the lives of at least 12 people. Reports from the Iraqi capital indicate that the bomb explosion in a fruit and vegetable market in the eastern part of the city resulted in the deaths of at least 12 people and injuries to 50 others. This attack occurred in the predominantly Shia neighborhood of Jamila, using a car bomb. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for this attack. In a series of bombings and explosions in the Iraqi capital, dozens of people have lost their lives in recent days. The Islamic State group has also claimed responsibility for several of those attacks. In this context, the Prime Minister of Iraq stated that the issue of Turkish military presence in northern Iraq will soon be resolved, and ISIS claimed responsibility for the explosion in Sadr City. Amnesty International reported that weapons from 16 countries are in the hands of predominantly Shia militants in Iraq.