The Iraqi Army, backed by the Nineveh Plains Protection Units (Assyrian paramilitary), entered the strategic town of Al-Hamdaniyah [Baghdede in Assyrian, Qaraqosh in Turkish] this morning after an intense firefight with the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS). Located southeast of Mosul, Al-Hamdaniyah is considered the gateway to the provincial capital, as it is situated approximately 30km away. In addition to their advance at Al-Hamdaniyah, the Iraqi Army and their allies liberated the key town of Bartella, which is located just east of Mosul. Once Al-Hamdaniyah is secured, the Iraqi Army and the NPU will have Mosul surrounded from two different flanks, leaving little to no room to retreat.

Editor's note: Baghdede (Qaraqosh), the largest Assyrian town in Iraq with 50,000 residents, was occupied by ISIS two years ago, forcing all of its Assyrians residents to flee.