Iraqi special forces swept through the campus of Mosul University on Sunday to clear it of any remaining Islamic State militants after taking full control of the area, a spokesman said. A military statement said troops had also taken another area along the eastern bank of the Tigris river, in gains that are bringing more of Islamic State's last major stronghold in the country under Iraqi forces' control.
Counter-terrorism service (CTS) troops drove the jihadists back inside the strategically located university complex and seized clusters of buildings including colleges on Saturday, a crucial advance towards recapturing all areas of Mosul east of the river.
"The university is completely liberated and forces are sweeping the complex for any hiding militants," CTS spokesman Sabah al-Numan told Reuters by phone on Sunday. "Most buildings are booby-trapped so we're being cautious."
"We're not stopping," he added, saying the CTS was working to push into areas next to the university.