KUWAIT CITY, November 7. /TASS/. Iraq’s government forces have killed one of the leaders of the Islamic State terrorist group to the south of Mosul, the Al Arabiya TV channel reported on Monday.

The Algeria-born field commander Abu Khamza was killed in Hamam al-Alil area, which was taken under control of the government forces on Sunday, according to the TV channel.

A ground operation to liberate Mosul from terrorists of the IS group (outlawed in Russia) began on October 17. It involves the Iraqi troops, Kurdish units and the US-led coalition. Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city with a population of 1.3 million, has been controlled by the IS for over two years.