Iraqi forces regroup, search for cars intended for attacks

A woman fires to the air at a Popular Mobilization Units base south of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (The Associated Press)

An Iraqi family sits inside a car as they wait at a checkpoint near Qayara, south of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (The Associated Press)

Popular Mobilization Units fighters talk on the radio as they watch Islamic State positions in the airport of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, Iraq, Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016. Iraqi troops on Sunday fortified their positions in Mosul neighborhoods retaken from the Islamic State group as their advance toward the city center was slowed by sniper fire and suicide bombings, as well as concern over the safety of civilians. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (The Associated Press)

A top Iraqi commander says troops fighting the Islamic State group in the eastern outskirts of Mosul are regrouping and conducting house-to-house searches looking for vehicles primed for use in suicide bombings.

Maj. Gen. Sami al-Aridi of the special forces tells The Associated Press that his men foiled two attempted suicide car bombings early Monday, firing on the approaching vehicles, which exploded before reaching their intended targets.

He says a civilian woman was wounded and adds that troops were going from house to house in four neighborhoods recently retaken from IS looking for vehicles intended for use in future suicide bombings.

The Iraqi military launched a campaign on Oct. 17 to retake Mosul, Iraq's second largest city and the extremist group's last major urban bastion in the country.