In late 2016, while taking part in the second battle of Mossul, he led the Golden Division which breached Mosul's Eastern defenses on November 1, 2016. In late December 2016, after the conquest of the Eastern side of Mosul, he left for the US in order to train 6 months. He returned to Mosul in June 2017 with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to lead the offensive on Mosul's old town, on the western bank of the river.