Iraqi forces retake eastern Mosul, fate of civilians in western side worrying

LIBERATING WESTERN MOSUL HIGH ON AGENDA

Experts believe that with the recapture of the whole eastern side of Mosul, the troops will soon begin a new phase of the anti-IS major offensive on the western part of the city.

At the press conference, al-Abadi urged the security forces to move quickly to liberate all the remaining areas of Iraq's northern province of Nineveh, in particular the western side of the provincial capital city of Mosul, locally known as the right bank of Tigris River which bisects the city.

However, as the militants have started using civilians as human shields in the fighting, international bodies and aid groups expressed concerns about the fate of the people living in the city still held by the IS.

Civilians in Mosul are falling victim to airstrikes targeting IS combatants, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) warned Tuesday, saying "it is difficult to verify how many civilians may have been killed or injured."

This is mainly because IS insurgents are continuing to use civilian houses and infrastructure as bases while using civilians as human shields, the UN rights body explained.

OHCHR urged all parties to the conflict to take necessary precautions to ensure that civilians do not get caught up in fighting between Iraqi government forces and IS fighters.

According to reports, Iraqi security forces' operation to take back the western part of the northern city is set to begin in the coming weeks.

"We are deeply concerned about the safety and humanitarian conditions of people who remain in IS-occupied western Mosul city, which it is estimated to be as many as 750,000," OHCHR continued.

"Reports suggest that IS fighters have taken over hospitals in western Mosul city and are using them as military bases, and that they are diverting available resources, including food, water and medicines, to their fighters," it added.

The UN body also warned that it had received a large number of reports that civilians are being killed and wounded by IS shells, improvised explosive devices, suicide attacks as well as snipers in areas now under government control.

Those attempting to flee have also been targeted, OHCHR added.

According to figures from the International Organization for Migration, over 160,000 people have fled Mosul and its adjacent districts since the military campaign kicked off in October last year.