Iraqi Forces Retake Mosul Airport and a Military Base from ISIS

Iraqi forces, supported by the international coalition led by the United States, successfully entered the airport of Mosul and also reclaimed a military base outside the city from the group known as the "Islamic State" or ISIS. On Thursday, March 5, the Associated Press reported, citing two Iraqi police officials, that on the morning of this day, Iraqi federal police units, supported by army forces, entered Mosul airport, leading to intense clashes with ISIS militants who had taken refuge inside the airport buildings. According to these two police officials, the international coalition forces were also accompanying Iraqi personnel in these advances, although the report did not mention the nationality of the coalition forces involved in the operation. A video of this operation is currently being broadcast by the Al-Mayadeen television network, showing a military helicopter firing at ISIS forces. The Associated Press further reported statements from General Raed Shakir Judat, the commander of the Iraqi federal police, who stated on Thursday afternoon to one of Iraq's official television networks that Iraqi forces had taken control of half of the airport. He also mentioned that about two hundred families living in the vicinity had evacuated their homes and moved to safe areas under government control. However, this was not the only success for Iraqi forces on Thursday. Reports indicate that the Al-Ghazlani military base near Mosul airport, located south of the city, was also captured by them. General Yahya Rasul, spokesman for the Iraqi Joint Operations Command, told the Associated Press that heavy fighting occurred between Iraqi forces and ISIS militants upon the entry of Iraqi troops into this base, but he did not provide details on the incident or the number of casualties from the clashes. Iraqi forces began operations to retake western Mosul on Sunday of this week after several weeks of preparation. According to the Iraqi army, since then, army and federal police forces have captured about 120 kilometers of areas south and southwest of Mosul.