Iraq's military on Wednesday urged residents to shelter in their homes in jihadist-held areas of Mosul, where its bid to oust the Islamic State group has taken a heavy toll on civilians.
It is the first aircraft downed by Daesh over Mosul that has been acknowledged by the Iraqi authorities since the start of the U.S. and Iran-backed offensive on the northern Iraqi city in October.
A number of Islamic State commanders were killed in an air strike on a position in Hay al-Tanak, a stronghold of the group, they said. He does not flinch when a mortar opens fire just around the corner.
The Iraqi coalition, which includes Iraqi military personnel, Shiite paramilitaries and allied Sunni tribesmen, has faced stiff resistance from ISIS militants, who have used sniper fire, suicide vehicle bombs and booby traps to slow Baghdad's advances. The hardline group seized the city almost three years ago, declaring from one of its old mosques a "caliphate" that also spans parts of Syria.
In the terror group's first official statement directed towards President Donald Trump, the Islamic State's spokesmen Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer said the United States is "being run by an idiot".
Philippine Troops Kill Militant Blamed For Beheading Canadians
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to destroy the extremists in Sulu and in outlying island provinces. Its leaders have also pledged allegiance to Islamic State gunmen in Iraq and Syria.
The current phase of the campaign is the most hard as narrow alleyways in the densely populated old city limit the use of artillery, air power and armoured vehicles.
Trump is said to be looking at ways to speed up the US -led coalition campaign against the organization.
Trump has made defeating Islamic State a priority of his presidency.
"You are bankrupt and the signs of your demise are evident to every eye", the terrorist organization reportedly said.
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