Iraq forces launch assault to retake west Mosul
Iraqi civilians were often caught in the crossfire as pro-regime forces fought jihadists for control of east Mosul.
AFP, Oreij :
Iraqi forces launched an offensive on jihadists defending Mosul’s west bank Sunday, in what could be the most brutal fighting yet in a four-month-old operation on the country’s second city.
They swiftly retook two villages and set their sights on Mosul airport, which lies just south of the city, marking a new phase in the offensive, Iraq’s largest military operation in years. The Islamic State group has put up stiff resistance to defend Mosul, the city where its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014. “Our forces are beginning the liberation of the citizens from the terror of Daesh,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a short televised speech, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul,” he said, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.
A top army commander then announced that forces led by federal police units retook Athbah and Al-Lazzagah, two villages on the southern approach to Mosul that lie on the east bank of the Tigris River.
An AFP reporter near the front line said heavy bombardment could be heard as forces backed by Iraqi and coalition aircraft advanced towards the jihadists’ last major bastion in the country. The jihadists overran Mosul and swathes of other territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014, sweeping aside security forces ill-prepared to face the assault.
The Iraqi government launched the offensive to reconquer Mosul on October 17, throwing tens of thousands of forces into the long-awaited counter-attack with air and ground support from the US-led coalition.
The Joint Operations Command coordinating the fight against IS declared east Mosul “fully liberated” on January 24.
Meanwhile, around 350,000 children are trapped in western Mosul, Save the Children warned on Sunday as Iraqi forces launched a fresh offensive on jihadists defending the strategic city.
“Iraqi forces and their allies, including the US and UK, must do everything in their power to protect children and their families from harm, and avoid civilian buildings like schools and hospitals as they push deeper into the city,” said the London-based charity’s Iraq country director, Maurizio Crivallero.
He warned that escape is not an option for most families, who risk summary execution by fighters from the Islamic State group, sniper fire and landmines-but they are also running out of food, water and medicine.
Iraqi forces launched an offensive on jihadists defending Mosul’s west bank Sunday, in what could be the most brutal fighting yet in a four-month-old operation on the country’s second city.
They swiftly retook two villages and set their sights on Mosul airport, which lies just south of the city, marking a new phase in the offensive, Iraq’s largest military operation in years. The Islamic State group has put up stiff resistance to defend Mosul, the city where its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a “caliphate” in 2014. “Our forces are beginning the liberation of the citizens from the terror of Daesh,” Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a short televised speech, using an Arabic acronym for IS. “We announce the start of a new phase in the operation. We are coming, Nineveh, to liberate the western side of Mosul,” he said, referring to the province of which Mosul is the capital.
A top army commander then announced that forces led by federal police units retook Athbah and Al-Lazzagah, two villages on the southern approach to Mosul that lie on the east bank of the Tigris River.
An AFP reporter near the front line said heavy bombardment could be heard as forces backed by Iraqi and coalition aircraft advanced towards the jihadists’ last major bastion in the country. The jihadists overran Mosul and swathes of other territory north and west of Baghdad in 2014, sweeping aside security forces ill-prepared to face the assault.
The Iraqi government launched the offensive to reconquer Mosul on October 17, throwing tens of thousands of forces into the long-awaited counter-attack with air and ground support from the US-led coalition.
The Joint Operations Command coordinating the fight against IS declared east Mosul “fully liberated” on January 24.
Meanwhile, around 350,000 children are trapped in western Mosul, Save the Children warned on Sunday as Iraqi forces launched a fresh offensive on jihadists defending the strategic city.
“Iraqi forces and their allies, including the US and UK, must do everything in their power to protect children and their families from harm, and avoid civilian buildings like schools and hospitals as they push deeper into the city,” said the London-based charity’s Iraq country director, Maurizio Crivallero.
He warned that escape is not an option for most families, who risk summary execution by fighters from the Islamic State group, sniper fire and landmines-but they are also running out of food, water and medicine.
