Iraqi forces retake eastern Mosul from Daesh

Iraqi forces have taken complete control of the eastern side of Mosul, dislodging Daesh militants from the last pocket they held east of Tigris river, the defense ministry said on Monday.

Mosul is Daesh's last major city stronghold in Iraq.

"The armed forces succeeded in liberating the left bank of the city of Mosul completely, after inflicting heavy losses in lives and equipment to the enemy," the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi confirmed on Tuesday that government forces had taken complete control of eastern Mosul, 100 days after the start of the U.S.-backed campaign to retake Iraq's second largest city from Daesh.

Government forces on Tuesday finished clearing the last eastern pocket held by militants - the northern suburb of Rashidiya, Major General Najm al-Jubbouri, commander of the northern front, told the local Mosuliya TV channel.

Abadi "announces the total liberation of the west side of Mosul", state television reported.

Iraqi forces launched a U.S.-backed campaign in October to retake Mosul from the hardline group, which captured the city in 2014, declaring from its Grand Mosque a "caliphate" that also spanned parts of Syria.