Iraqi Army Officials: One of ISIS's Commanders Killed in Mosul

Iraqi army intelligence officials reported the death of a senior commander of the group known as the 'Islamic State' during the battle for Mosul. CNN reported on Friday, November 21, citing these officials, that Mahmoud Shukri al-Naeemi, known as Sheikh Faris, who is considered a senior figure among ISIS militants, was killed during airstrikes on Tuesday in western Mosul. These news sources referred to Shukri al-Naeemi as a high-ranking security officer in Saddam Hussein's regime who later joined ISIS, but CNN stated it could not confirm the accuracy of this claim. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Iraqi forces are advancing in Mosul, although this progress has been described as slow. The Associated Press, citing Iraqi army commanders, wrote that special forces have entered the Qadisiyah neighborhood and are advancing very slowly to avoid civilian casualties. The report also adds that other army forces have taken control of 90 percent of the Intisar neighborhood in Mosul, but progress in this area is slow due to the narrow streets that prevent tanks from passing through. Iraqi forces have opened several fronts towards Mosul, while Kurdish Peshmerga have also secured a corridor to the north of the city. On the other hand, with the Iraqi army's advance in Mosul, multiple reports have emerged of civilian massacres by ISIS members. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Office announced on Friday that ISIS killed 40 civilians in Mosul three days ago on charges of 'treason and collaboration' with Iraqi security forces. The report states that on Wednesday, ISIS also executed 20 civilians in one of the camps north of Mosul on charges of 'leaking information.' Mosul is the second-largest city in Iraq. This city was captured by ISIS militants in the summer of 2014 and has since been considered the main center of this group. Iraqi forces began operations to retake it last month.