TEHRAN (FNA)- Military campaign by the Iraqi army, popular forces as well as Kurdish Peshmerga forces to liberate the city of Mosul from ISIL terrorists in Iraq continued on Thursday, resulting in more advances by pro-government forces and the liberation of at least 14 more villages in the vicinity of the last stronghold of ISIL in Iraq.

Iraqi Forces Liberate 14 Villages in Mosul

The Iraqi security and popular forces retook 14 villages in the Northern and Southern parts of Mosul from the ISIL control on Thursday, sources said.

Iraqi sources said that the army and its allies seized back control of al-Khalediyeh, al-Salehiyeh and al-Khabat villages near al-Qayyara, Deiri, Samaqiyeh, Soqra, Kobra and Nahla villages near Sahl Neineva region, Sidaveh, al-Makouk, al-Manavir and Khanisat villages in Southern Mosul and Barima and al-Nouran villages in Northern Mosul.

They added that operations will continue until freedom of all regions in Mosul from the ISIL hand.

In the Meantime, reports said that the Iraqi army and volunteer forces have surrounded the center of al-Hamdaniyeh town in the Southeastern parts of Mosul.

Iraqi Forces to Block ISIL�s Pathway to Escape toward Syria

Local sources said the Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces are preparing to launch a massive assault toward West of Mosul, following a successful 48 hours that included the liberation of several villages.

With the popular forces attacking the Western flank of Mosul, the sources said, ISIL terrorists will find themselves surrounded from three different sides, leaving only the Northern side of the city open for retreat.

The PMF's attack on Mosul's Western flank will close-off the ISIL's pathway to the Syrian border, contrasting reports that the Iraqi Armed Forces are allowing the terrorist group to freely retreat to Syria.

In addition to the ground assault, the Iraqi Air Force has begun bombing the ISIL positions along the Iraqi-Syrian border in order to obstruct the flow of terrorists between both countries.

Iraq Deploys Elite Forces for Mosul Offensive

Iraqi special forces were deployed to join the Mosul battle on Thursday with a pre-dawn advance on a nearby town held by the ISIL terror group, a key part of a multi-pronged assault on Western fronts to the besieged city.

The deployment of the elite troops, also known as counterterrorism forces, marked a significant intensification of the fight for Iraq's second-largest city.

Major General Ma'an al-Sa'adi said the elite Counterterrorism Forces advanced on the town of Bartella with the support of US-led coalition airstrikes and heavy artillery on the fourth day of a massive operation to retake Iraq's second-largest city.

ISIL Expected to Use Chemical Weapons During Battle for Mosul

Iraqi officials said they expect the ISIL terror group to employ crude chemical weapons in the battle for Mosul.

�ISIL has brought several shipments of chemical weapons, particularly chlorine and mustard agents,�to Mosul,� the head of the Nineveh Media Centre, Raafat al-Zarari said.

The introduction of mustard gas into Mosul�s sprawling urban districts would cause burning, blindness, and difficulty breathing. While ISILL militants could retreat into their labyrinthine tunnel network, there would be no escape for the besieged civilians.

Mysterious Fire Devours ISIL Headquarters in Iraq's Mosul

Iraqi media reported that mysterious fire devoured the empty headquarters of the ISIL terror group in the city of Mosul during the last 24 hours.

The fire started 24 hours ago inside the empty headquarters of the ISIL in the city of Mosul.

The buildings were evacuated by the ISIL far before the launch of the battle to liberate Mosul and the perpetrators of the fire are still unknown.

At Least 100 ISIL Commanders Escape from Mosul toward Syria

At least 100 commanders of ISIL terrorist group left the Iraqi city of Mosul and headed for Syria amid the Iraqi forces' offensive, media reported.

The group of ISIL commanders moved to the Syrian border, as the Iraqi air forces continue to monitor the area to the West of Mosul.

The start of the military operation to retake Mosul from ISIL, which seized it in June 2014, was announced by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi on Monday.

By Fars News Agency