Iraq: 37 Daesh terrorists killed in Mosul operation

MOSUL, Iraq

At least 37 Daesh terrorists have been killed in the operation to retake Iraq's oil rich city of Mosul, that country’s defense ministry said Friday.

The ministry said that the operation targeted Daesh positions in Mosul's western regions.

The statement added that 14 bomb-laden vehicles were destroyed during the operation.

The operation to clean the terror group in Mosul is on its 18th day and the Iraqi army and federal police, Peshmerga forces, backed by the U.S.-led coalition are taking part in the campaign.

In mid-2014, Daesh captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, before overrunning vast swathes of territory in the country’s north and west.

Recent months have seen the Iraqi army, backed by local allies on the ground and the U.S.-led air coalition, retake much territory.

*Reporting by Arif Yusuf,Zeynep Tufekci; Writing by Handan Kazanci