The Iraqi army and popular forces have taken back al-Qayara air base in Southern Mosul after heavy clashes with the ISIL terrorist group, FNA quoted Nineveh province’s governor-general as saying on Saturday.

The Iraqi army and popular forces have taken back al-Qayara air base in Southern Mosul after heavy clashes with the ISIL terrorist group, FNA quoted Nineveh province's governor-general as saying on Saturday.

"The Iraqi security, tribal and anti-terrorism forces could take full control of the air base after heavy clashes with the ISIL militants," Nawfal Hamadi al-Sultan said, and added, "The terrorists fled towards al-Qayara town after they came under the pro-government forces' heavy attacks, and left their weapons and equipment at the base."

"The pro-government forces have now deployed at the air base and plan to use it as a platform to launch military operations against the ISIL in Mosul in the future," he added.

Media reports said on Thursday that the ISIL terrorist group declared state of alert in Mosul in anticipation of the Iraqi army's advances and its imminent attack on the city after the Iraqi flag was hoisted in the city center.

After the Iraqi flag was hoisted on Bab al-Toub market in the center of Mosul by unknown parties, the ISIL called its militants to go on alert, the Arabic-language al-Sumeria News quoted an unnamed security source as saying on Thursday.

He noted that this is for the first time that the ISIL takes such a measure since two years that it captured Mosul city.

"The armed men destroyed the ISIL's flags and took and made several arrests, taking their prisoners to an unknown place," he added.