US Airstrike in Mosul Destroys Saddam-Era Palace Used by Daesh

A US airstrike destroyed a Saddam Hussein-era palace in Mosul used by Daesh terrorists, a Pentagon official said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — An airstrike carried out in the Iraqi city of Mosul on August 1 destroyed a palace used as a foreign fighter hub, Operation Inherent Resolve spokesman Army Col. Christopher Garver said in a briefing on Wednesday.

"It was an old Saddam-era palace that we [bombed] to be able to level it and prevent it from being used to facilitate foreign fighters," Garver stated.

The spokesperson noted that some 5,000 Daesh fighters remain in Mosul. He added that foreign fighters can still reach the city, but their ability to do it has been degraded.

Garver said the terrorists located in Mosul have started cutting off internet access for the civilians because they are afraid the residents would try to communicate to the Iraqi Security Forces.

Mosul, the second largest Iraqi city, populated by about 500,000 people, was turned by Daesh, outlawed in many countries including Russia, into one of its stronghold in 2014.

Iraqi forces supported by Kurdish Peshmerga militia are carrying out operations in the ancient city of Nineveh in preparation for an assault on Mosul, which is set to be carried out with the aerial support from the US-led international coalition.