NINEVEH, Iraq

At least 13 pro-government fighters were killed in the fight to capture the center of al-Qayrawan district in western Iraq's Mosul city from Daesh terrorist group on Monday night, according to a militia commander on Tuesday. 

The Hashd al-Shaabi militia wrestled control of the district’s center from Daesh early Tuesday following an overnight offensive.

“Thirteen fighters were killed and nine others injured in the operation,” Mohammad Reda al-Hassani told Anadolu Agency.

He said 41 Daesh militants had also been killed in the fight.

In February, Iraqi forces -- with air cover provided by a U.S.-led coalition -- began fresh operations aimed at purging Daesh from western Mosul, the terrorist group’s last stronghold in the region.

The offensive came as part of a wider campaign launched last October to retake the entire city, which Daesh overran -- along with other parts of the country -- in mid-2014.

Reporting by Mohammed Walid and Serhad Shaker; Writing by Ali Abo Rezeg