Mosul – ISIS members have started fleeing northern and western sides of Mosul towards regions ruled by them in the Old City, making use of its narrow streets, security sources revealed.

Sources added that Iraqi security forces liberated on Wednesday new neighborhoods and raided others in the west of Mosul, while conflicts are ongoing between besieged ISIS members and the security forces.

An officer in the Iraqi Army said to Asharq Al-Awsat: “As security forces continue to push forward in all directions in the northwest and following the massive losses at the group’s side, ISIS armed men started to flee to regions ruled by them in the Old City – in Mosul.”

Old City includes thousands of besieged civilians – by the regime – amidst hunger, fear and shortage of medication and services. Although security forces have opened several secure facilities for their exit, yet ISIS snipers are preventing their safe arrival to security forces troops.

Citizen Hamed al-Obediy told Asharq Al-Awsat that he escaped on Wednesday along with 100 others from the Old City, and that ISIS armed men were absent at that moment or else “we would have been killed by now. They daily kill dozens of women, children and men who attempt to flee the region,” he added.

Commander of Federal Police Forces Lieutenant General Raed Shaker Jawdat told Asharq Al-Awsat that the forces are advancing in a quick pace towards northwest Mosul and besieging ISIS members in the fifth bridge region.

He added that the forces have liberated Harmat district, killed six group members and seized the ammunition depot and the command center. Jawdat concluded that terrorists’ defenses are collapsing.