Mosul - Amid battles to liberate the western side of Mosul from ISIS, Iraqi forces retake control of a third bridge crossing over Tigris River which divides the northern city into two parts. ‘Iron Bridge' was recaptured from ISIS remnants in western Mosul on Wednesday following an operation enlisting the Federal police and Interior Ministry's Rapid Response units, Reuters reported, citing a police statement. The coup marks a significant strategic victory as the bridge connects the eastern part of Mosul, which has been entirely freed of terrorists' presence, to the city's ISIS-held Old City. The terrorists are now controlling only two other cross-river bridges. According to Iraqi police sources, government forces are now moving towards Mosul's Grand Mosque. "Our troops are making a steady advance towards the Grand Mosque and we are now less than 800 meters from" the building, Reuters quoted a police spokesman as saying. Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January and launched the battle in the west on February 19.
