Tasnim� Iran�s former ambassador to Iraq underlined that the Arab country�s Popular Mobilization Forces, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, have played a leading role in the massive operation underway to retake the northern city of Mosul from the Daesh (ISIS or ISIL) terrorist group.

Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Hassan Kazemi Qomi said it is an important point that the operation to recapture Mosul from foreign-backed terrorists is underway under the command of the Iraqi government not a foreign country and with the central role of the Hashd al-Shaabi forces.

The Hashd al-Shaabi forces, by themselves, have managed to liberate about 4,500 kilometers in areas near Mosul in Nineveh Province, he stated.

The former Iranian diplomat further predicted that about 14,000 km of areas under the control of Daesh will be liberated in the operation.

Iraqi army and Popular Mobilization Units backed by Kurdish Peshmerga forces began their joint operation to liberate Mosul on October 17.

Mosul, Iraq�s second largest city and the capital of Nineveh Province, fell into the hands of Daesh in June 2014.

On Friday, local reports quoted the Nineveh Liberation Operation Command Center as saying that the Iraqi forces had liberated several areas near Tall Kayf (Tel Keppe), a predominately Christian town north of Mosul.

Iraqi security forces also managed to kill 4 leaders of the terror group south of the embattled city.