Mosul update

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Forces Seize Control of Mosul’s Old Bridge

Mosul’s Old Bridge connects Mosul’s Old City in the west with the eastern side

Basnews English

15/03/2017 - 16:51

Iraq

 

MOSUL — Iraqi forces have taken control of Mosul’s Old Bridge, also known as Iron Bridge, Iraq’s Federal Police command said on Wednesday.

The 2nd and 3rd divisions of the Iraqi forces, backed by Rapid Response teams, took over Mosul’s Old Bridge, which connects Mosul’s Old City in the west with the eastern side, said Federal Police Chief, Shaker Jawdat, as reported by Iraqi News.

On Tuesday, both Bab al-Jadid and Bab al-Bid districts of the Old City were recaptured from Islamic State (IS) militants. However, incursions are still taking place in those areas, added Jawdat.

The operation to recapture the western part of Mosul began on February 19, - about a month after the eastern half of the city was declared liberated.

The operation is supported by the US-led international coalition, which is providing both aerial and armament support to the Iraqi forces.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336700

[tigergorzow]

Airstrikes Kill Three Senior IS Leaders in Central Mosul 
Mira Rojkan

15/03/2017 - 19:08

Iraq

 

 

MOSUL — Three senior Islamic State (IS) leaders were killed in central Mosul on Wednesday, after an airstrike conducted by the Iraqi Army jets hit their position, Iraq's military intelligence service said. 

 

The Iraqi military intelligence service released a statement on Wednesday saying that an airstrike by Iraqi fighter jets killed three senior IS leaders in Mosul's al-Jadida district, which was retaken by the Iraqi forces a few hours earlier. 

 

According to the statement the three senior IS leaders are identified to be known under the names Mohamed Fathy al-Jubouri, a military official for the terrorist group in western Mosul, his aide, Ahmed Nawwaf al-Jubouri and Abu Anas al-Jubouri, a suicide squads official, IraqiNews reported. 

 

The Iraqi forces recently managed to recapture the third out of five bridges crossing the Tigris River in Mosul, which is a highly important point for the government troops. They further liberate several neighbourhoods in the Old City in western Mosul, and a number of villages in the surrounding areas. A spokesperson for the Counter-Terrorism Service said earlier on Wednesday that the Iraqi forces have so far taken control over about 60% of western Mosul. 

 

The Iraqi government backed by the US-led coalition launched the operation for liberating the northern Iraqi city of Mosul in October last year. The military forces liberated the entire eastern part of the city in the beginning of 2017, however since February the forces have been involved in operations in the western part of city, aiming to recapture it and clear the areas from any IS presence. 

 

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336735

[tigergorzow]

PM Abadi: Battle Against IS in "Final Stages" in Mosul

IS militants must surrender or be prepared to die, Haidar al-Abadi says

Shoguna B. Sobir

15/03/2017 - 16:34

Iraq

 

MOSUL — Iraqi forces are on a mission to recapture the Grand Mosque in Mosul’s Old City area, where the Islamic State (IS) leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed himself the ruler of a caliphate in the summer of 2014.

Taking control of the Grand Mosque would be a symbolic as well as a concrete blow to the extremist organization.

Though resistance from IS militants is expected to be strong, in his latest statement, Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, said that the battle against the IS in Mosul is in its last stages. He further noted that IS militants must surrender or be prepared to die, as they are nearly completely surrounded.

"Daesh, day after day, is being surrounded inside a tight area and they are in their final days," al-Abadi said on Tuesday night, using another acronym for the IS.

"Let me be very clear, we will preserve families of Daesh who are civilians but we will punish the terrorists and bring them to justice if they surrender," he added.

"They are cornered and if they will not surrender they will definitely get killed,” al-Abadi concluded.

Al-Abadi is to visit Washington next week in order to discuss the operation in Mosul with US President Donald Trump.

US is leading the international coalition's aerial and armament efforts in support of Iraqi army's fight against the IS in Mosul. The operation began on October 17 of 2016. The eastern half of the city was proclaimed liberated on January 24, and the operation progressed to the western half on February 19.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336695

Edited March 15, 2017 by tigergorzow

[WheresmyRV?]

Thanks Tiger for updating like this!

[tigergorzow]

15 minutes ago, WheresmyRV? said:

Thanks Tiger for updating like this!

No Problemo...

[SnowGlobe7]

God bless these people

[10 YEARS LATER]

56 minutes ago, tigergorzow said:

PM Abadi: Battle Against IS in "Final Stages" in Mosul

IS militants must surrender or be prepared to die, Haidar al-Abadi says

Shoguna B. Sobir

15/03/2017 - 16:34

Iraq

 

MOSUL — Iraqi forces are on a mission to recapture the Grand Mosque in Mosul’s Old City area, where the Islamic State (IS) leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, proclaimed himself the ruler of a caliphate in the summer of 2014.

Taking control of the Grand Mosque would be a symbolic as well as a concrete blow to the extremist organization.

Though resistance from IS militants is expected to be strong, in his latest statement, Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, said that the battle against the IS in Mosul is in its last stages. He further noted that IS militants must surrender or be prepared to die, as they are nearly completely surrounded.

"Daesh, day after day, is being surrounded inside a tight area and they are in their final days," al-Abadi said on Tuesday night, using another acronym for the IS.

"Let me be very clear, we will preserve families of Daesh who are civilians but we will punish the terrorists and bring them to justice if they surrender," he added.

"They are cornered and if they will not surrender they will definitely get killed,” al-Abadi concluded.

Al-Abadi is to visit Washington next week in order to discuss the operation in Mosul with US President Donald Trump.

US is leading the international coalition's aerial and armament efforts in support of Iraqi army's fight against the IS in Mosul. The operation began on October 17 of 2016. The eastern half of the city was proclaimed liberated on January 24, and the operation progressed to the western half on February 19.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/336695

Die now or die later - I like it.

[tigergorzow]

US Vice President Calls for an End to IS Genocide against Kurdish Yezidis

One of the survivors says the genocide is still going on

• 
   

Basnews English

16/03/2017 - 00:30

Kurdistan

 

ERBIL — US Vice-President Mike Pence on Wednesday called for an end to the genocide of Christians and Kurdish Yezidis at the hands of Islamic State (IS).

“Grateful that OTD in 2016, House recognized the genocide of Christians, Yazidis and religious minorities at the hands of ISIS. This must end,” Pence tweeted on his official account, using an alternative acronym for Islamic State.

In response, Nadia Murad, a Kurdish Yezidi survivor of IS captivity, reminded the new administration of the US that the genocide is ongoing.

“The genocide is still ongoing and it must end. I hope that VP will make this a priority,” she tweeted.

Murad is now acting as the first Goodwill Ambassador for the Dignity Survivors of Human Trafficking of the United Nations.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/kurdistan/336791

[tigergorzow]

Iranian official claims to know when ISIS will end

March 15 2017 10:44 PM

Mohsen Rezaei

Mohsen Rezaei, Secretary of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, said Wednesday that Iraq's city of Mosul will be fully liberated from ISIS terrorists over the coming days.

After Mosul, the rest of the Iraqi and Syrian cities, where ISIS once proclaimed its self-styled caliphate, will be declared free of the terror group, he added.

Rezaei lauded the missile capabilities of Iran, claiming it has missiles of ranges as long as 2,000 KMs.

He also spoke about the so-called 'Islamic Revolution' in Iran, saying it is progressing in all aspects.

Iran is sending its troops and senior commanders to 'help' Syria and Iraq, he further noted.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8189/Iranian-official-claims-to-know-when-ISIS-will-end

[tigergorzow]

Armed Forces should abandon 'scorched earth' policy in Mosul: sources

March 15 2017 11:58 PM

Iraqi armed Forces

The military operations in Mosul's right bank have left countless civilians killed and wounded, informed sources told The Baghdad Post on Wednesday.

The sources, that requested anonymity, have indirectly accused the armed forces of "adopting the scorched earth policy that made civilians vulnerable to military errors".

They, however, saw the situation in the left bank- where Terror Combat Divisions and Peshmerga Forces are fighting ISIS- is slightly better.

The sources have asked the Iraqi air forces and the international coalition forces to be more cautious in their bombardment to save civilians.

ISIS terrorists in the densely-populated Mosul's right bank took thousands of captives as human shields in their fight against the Iraqi army.

Political analysts have also warned against the too many narrow alleys and rickety houses that may collapse due to severe bombardment.

Thousands of Mosul residents have fled their homes amid military confrontations between the Iraqi army and the ISIS militias.

Minister of Immigration and Displacement Jassim Mohamed al-Jaff estimated at 99,582 the total number of the displaced people since February, 19 when the Iraqi army started its offensive to liberate Mosul.

On Monday, a press statement released by Nineveh provincial council's adviser, Khadida Kulu, said "The destruction that hit all Mosul's infrastructure as well as the displacement crisis has made Mosul an already disaster area."

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8191/Armed-Forces-should-abandon-scorched-earth-policy-in-Mosul-sources

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi forces encircle ISIL stronghold near Syrian border

By

Leith Fadel

-

15/03/2017

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:05 A.M.) – The Popular Mobilization Units (Hashd Al-Sha’abi) made a major advance in the northwestern countryside of the Nineveh Governorate, resulting in the encirclement of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) stronghold near the Syrian border.

According to Iraqi activists, the Popular Mobilization Units seized the entire Badush area west of Mosul City, fully cutting off the Islamic State terrorists from Tal ‘Afar for the first time during this war.

With Tal ‘Afar fully surrounded, the Popular Mobilization Units will be able to collapse the Islamic State’s small pocket at the western flank of Mosul City.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-forces-encircle-isil-stronghold-near-syrian-border/

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi PM: Operations against ISIS almost complete

By

Paul Antonopoulos

-

15/03/2017

 

BEIRUT, LEBANON (7:08 A.M.) – Iraqi Prime Minster Haider al-Abadi has claimed the the operation to liberate Mosul from ISIS has entered “its last stage.”

He also made an offer for terrorists who surrender to receive a fair trial, but those who continue to resist will “definitely be killed.”

He also emphasized that all precautions are being taken so civilians were not killed in the crossfire.

 

“We are so careful, even with the families of Daesh [ISIS], we are taking care of them but not the fighters. We will not target the families but the terrorists of Daesh, we will fight them and if they are arrested they will face a fair trial and if they will fight they will be killed,” he said.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-pm-operations-against-isis-almost-complete/

[tigergorzow]

VIDEO: PMU fighter tragically killed by ISIS sniper as he rescues child from the battlefield (Video in link)

By

Paul Antonopoulos

-

15/03/2017

BEIRUT, LEBANON (1:55 A.M.) – A fighter of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), was tragically killed by an ISIS sniper in the liberated region of Badush in northern Iraq.

A video has been released by the media wing of the PMU that shows the brave fighter attempting to carry the child to safety, moments before he was shot.

The child survived the sniper fire.

The hero was identified as Mutlak Suwadi, from Nasriyah in southern Iraq.

On Wednesday, the PMU with the Iraqi Army, liberated the entirety of Badush region, northwest of Mosul.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-pmu-fighter-tragically-killed-by-isis-sniper-as-he-rescues-child-from-the-battlefield/

[tigergorzow]

Iraqi Army fully liberates Badush region, rendering ISIS militants doomed in Mosul (Video in link)

By

Chris Tomson

-

15/03/2017

 

 

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (10:25 P.M.) – Earlier today, the Iraqi Armed Forces officially imposed full control over the Badush region northwest of Mosul after capturing the remaining 20% of the area, thereby cementing its control over the main road between Tal Afar and Mosul.

In addition, the Iraqi Army’s 9th division alongside the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) liberated the nearby village of Tal Al-Rais.

Inside Mosul city itself, the Rapid Response Units and Iraqi Federal Police completed a swift advance along the western bank of the Tigris River, thus fully securing the Old City bridge while pushing towards the Ras Al-Kor district.

 

The central Old City district is composed of narrow streets and small buildings, making it unsuitable for the armored vehicles usually deployed by the Iraqi Army.

Elsewhere, Iraqi government forces uncovered an abandoned ISIS armaments factory in the Nabi Younis district. The facility stored tons of improvised explosives, rockets, drones and thousands of mortar shells.

Further south in Tikrit, a car bomb killed 7 people and injured 43 more in the afternoon. The city is now on lockdown and a curfew has been imposed to avoid a second bombing.

Despite sustaining ongoing territorial losses in Mosul, ISIS militants have inflicted a significant number of casualties on government troops. For instance, a single suicide bombing destroyed numerous armored vehicles at the Assyria hotel today.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iraqi-army-fully-liberates-badush-region-rendering-isis-militants-doomed-mosul/

Edited March 16, 2017 by tigergorzow

[tigergorzow]

100,000 flee as Iraqi forces advance in west Mosul

Elite troops battle towards iconic Nuri mosque where ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed the caliphate.

15 Mar 2017 16:43 GMT

 

Iraqi families flee the fighting in western Mosul [Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters]

Iraqi government forces battling ISIL for Mosul took control of a main bridge over the Tigris River on Wednesday and advanced towards the mosque where the group's leader declared a caliphate in 2014.

The seizure of the Iron Bridge, linking eastern Mosul with ISIL-held Old City on the west side, means the government holds three of the five bridges over the Tigris - and bolsters Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's assertion that the battle is reaching its final stages.

The gains were made in heavy fighting in which troops fought street-by-street against an enemy using suicide car bombs, mortar and sniper fire, and grenade-dropping drones to defend what was once their main stronghold.

"Our troops are making a steady advance ... and we are now less than 800 metres from the mosque," a federal police spokesman told Reuters news agency.

 

The military gains made against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant have come at a human cost. 

Nearly 100,000 Iraqis have fled western Mosul in the past three weeks as government forces backed by Shia militias advanced on territory held by ISIL, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said Wednesday.

The Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displacement said as many as 600,000 civilians remained trapped in neighbourhoods of west Mosul controlled by the armed group.

ISIL slept in our home

Iraqi forces and their allies have been making steady progress in the city, forcing ISIL (also known as ISIS) out of a series of neighbourhoods and retaking important sites such as the airport, Mosul museum, train station and provincial government headquarters.

But the battle for west Mosul - smaller and more densely populated than the eastern side, which Iraqi forces recaptured earlier this year - has forced a flood of people to flee their homes.

In recent days, residents have been streaming out of western neighbourhoods recaptured by the government, desperate and hungry and traumatised by living under ISIL's harsh rule.

According to the IOM, between February 25 and March 15, more than 97,000 people were displaced, an increase of about 17,000 from the figure it released on Tuesday.

IOM said the new figures, provided by the Iraqi government, also showed that more than 116,000 people from the city's west had gone through a screening site south of Mosul.

"Some families are still stuck," Hajj Ahmed, a 55-year-old who had recently fled Mosul, told AFP news agency.

"They [ISIL] have been besieging people for seven days," he said, before praising Iraq's elite soldiers for saving them.

 

Federal police officers and a special forces unit advanced on the iconic Nuri mosque, where in July 2014, ISIL's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed himself head of the Islamic State caliphate.

ISIL fighters have booby-trapped houses, and government forces have been forced to fight among civilians, ruling out the extensive use of air and artillery support.

ISIL seized Mosul in mid-2014 when the group swept through areas north and west of Baghdad, taking control of swaths of territory and declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

Backed by US-led air strikes and other international military support, Iraqi forces have since retaken much of the territory they lost.

Losing Mosul would be a major blow to ISIL, but the group is expected to pose a continuing threat, reverting to guerrilla-style tactics.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/03/100000-flee-iraqi-forces-advance-west-mosul-170315140908426.html

Edited March 16, 2017 by tigergorzow

[tigergorzow]

VIDEO: Islamic State suicide bomber in bulldozer blasts Iraqi Army convoy in Mosul (Video in link)

By

Chris Tomson

-

15/03/2017

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (8:10 P.M.) – The Islamic State carried out a deadly operation in the Old City of western Mosul on Wednesday as multiple armored vehicles were destroyed by an ISIS suicide bomber who drove an armored bulldozer fitted with explosives towards a gathering of Iraqi troops.

The incident took place near the Assyria Hotel which was liberated by the Iraqi Armed Forces five days ago amid a daring overnight operation.

Remarkably, the suicide bomber managed to plow through a roadblock and even hit a Humvee on his way towards the stationary convoy.

The suicide bomber was identified as a local man nicknamed Abu Mohamed Al-Iraqi, according to Amaq Agency.

 

Chris Tomson | Al-Masdar News

Approximately five ISIS suicide bombers target the Iraqi Armed Forces in western Mosul on a daily basis, prompting government troops to stay on guard at all times.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi Armed Forces advanced within a few hundred meters of the Al-Nouri mosque, the site where Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the establishment of the Islamic State caliphate in 2014.

At the moment, upwards of 2,000 ISIS insurgents are bogged down in the northwestern part of Iraq’s second largest city, holding control of little more than 15% of Mosul.

https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/video-islamic-state-suicide-bomber-bulldozer-blasts-iraqi-army-convoy-mosul/

[tigergorzow]

  

 

Haidar Sumeri‏ @IraqiSecurity 7h7 hours ago

 

#Mosul map update (15/3/2017). •Green: #Iraq's control. •White: Da'ish control. •Red: Frontline.

pic.twitter.com/bg28VXxAN9

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mosul

Edited March 16, 2017 by tigergorzow

[tigergorzow]

 

 

Haidar Sumeri‏ @IraqiSecurity 6h6 hours ago

 

IMPORTANT: It's done. #Iraq's armed forces have fully surrounded Tal 'Afar (left) and completely cut it from western #Mosul (right).

pic.twitter.com/83fPCPCTp3

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mosul

Edited March 16, 2017 by tigergorzow

[tigergorzow]

 

 

 

 

Erik J. Anthes‏ @ErikJAnthes 58m58 minutes ago

 

W. #Mosul is completely surrounded. Now a siege- #Iraq's 2nd City will be returned within the week. All #ISIS can do now is die in place.

pic.twitter.com/JOb1dlu4ui

https://twitter.com/hashtag/mosul

Edited March 16, 2017 by tigergorzow

[tigergorzow]

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Inherent Resolve‏Verified account @CJTFOIR 17h17 hours ago

 

Mar 14: #CJTFOIR conducted 25 strikes consisting of 81 engagements against ISIS in Syria & Iraq. http://ow.ly/i0my309Vucb  @USNavy @CENTCOM

pic.twitter.com/U7dz44Io9z

 https://twitter.com/CJTFOIR

[tigergorzow]

Airstrike targets Hafsah Mosque in western Mosul

March 16 2017 01:42 PM

Breaking

An airstrike was launched on Thursday targeting Hafsah Mosque and the apartment complex in its vicinity in al-Refaei neighborhood in the right bank of Mosul with no reports on casualties so far, local sources told The Baghdad Post.

The shelling comes as part of the offensive launched on 19^th of February by the US-backed Iraqi forces to oust ISIS militants from the right bank of Mosul.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8204/Airstrike-targets-Hafsah-Mosque-in-western-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

Photos: Life returns to Mosul's liberated left bank

March 16 2017 01:15 PM

Mosul streets

Photos were exclusively obtained by The Baghdad post showing  al-Majmouaa al-Thaqafiya street in Mosul's liberated left bank getting back to normal life.



A group of young people volunteered to clean the streets from the rubble left behind by war after this part of the city was liberated from the terrorist militants two months ago.

Bakeries are seen working as usual before ISIS took control over the city while other shops await to open soon.




ِAl-Majmouaa al-Thaqafiya is one of the biggest and vital markets in eastern Mosul as most of Iraqis consider it a lifeline for Mosul's left bank and first get its fame in early 1980.

On February 19, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operation on state TV, saying government forces were moving to "liberate the people of Mosul from Daesh oppression and terrorism forever", using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.

 

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8202/Photos-Life-returns-to-Mosul-s-liberated-left-bank

[tigergorzow]

US troops install mortar launchers on Mosul outskirts

March 16 2017 01:56 PM

US troops

 

Photos were recently obtained by The Baghdad post showing US 503rd Infantry Regiment while installing mortar launchers near Mosul city.


This comes as a part of the military assistance provided by US army to Iraqi forces in its operations against ISIS terrorist in the right bank.




The troops were also seen while targeting ISIS deadly drones using anti-drones in order to protect Iraqi security forces and civilians as the terrorists using these drones to drop explosives on gathering of civilians and security forces.


On February 19, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of the operation on state TV, saying government forces were moving to "liberate the people of Mosul from Daesh oppression and terrorism forever", using the Arabic acronym for ISIS.  

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8205/US-troops-install-mortar-launchers-on-Mosul-outskirts

[tigergorzow]

Gov't forces carry out random detention to citizens in eastern Mosul

March 16 2017 04:05 PM

Iraqi security forces detain ISIS militant

Iraqi government forces on Thursday carried out random detection campaigns against citizens in the left bank of Mosul, press sources told The Baghdad Post.

The Iraqi forces pushed deep into a number of houses and detained a number of citizens over claims of belonging to the terrorist group of ISIS or collaboration with the terrorist elements.

The sources also confirmed that the Iraqi security apparatus tasked secret elements inside Hamam al-Alil refugee camp in the south with reporting on any suspected persons. Based on such reports, security forces detained a number of suspects after isolating them from their families over doubts of cooperating with ISIS militants.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8210/Gov-t-forces-carry-out-random-detention-to-citizens-in-eastern-Mosul

[tigergorzow]

FPF recapture Nineveh's public hospital

March 16 2017 06:57 PM

FPF takes back new areas in Mosul

Commander of Federal Police Forces (FPF) Gen. Raid Shaker Jawdat declared Thursday that ISIS terrorists have been driven out of Nineveh public hospital west of Mosul.

FPF units liberated Nineveh public hospital located in the western part of Mosul's old city, a statement released by FPF said.

FPF's drone attacks destroyed dozens of ISIS's mobile and fixed targets in the vicinity of Manarat Al-Hadbaa, the statement added.

The forces will continue pushing ISIS out of the city, and the terrorists will be stripped of all the ground they acquired, FPF further noted.

According to the statement, displaced families in Bab Al-Tub and the train station have been moved to southern Mosul since the forces are advancing on Bab Al-Bid in the western parts of Mosul's old city.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of an operation to liberate the western side of the flashpoint city of Mosul from the grip of ISIS terrorist group.

"Our forces are beginning the liberation of the citizens from the terror of ISIS," Abadi said in a televised speech on Sunday morning.

"We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul," he added, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.

The remarks came one day after Iraqi planes dropped leaflets on western Mosul warning locals of an imminent offensive.

http://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/story/8215/FPF-recapture-Nineveh-s-public-hospital