Advancement of Iraqi Forces in East Mosul Amid Rocket and Suicide Attacks by ISIS

Iraqi special forces advanced on Wednesday, November 17, with the support of airstrikes from the U.S.-led international coalition in northern Mosul, but were attacked by the Islamic State group with rocket fire and suicide bombings. According to an Associated Press report from Nimrud, Iraqi forces have captured positions in eastern Mosul and fortified their positions there. These forces began their advance towards the Tahrir neighborhood early Wednesday, prompting residents to flee their homes to escape the fighting. As a result of mortar fire from ISIS militants, at least five children fleeing the conflict were injured, and Iraqi forces evacuated them from the area. On Wednesday, Iraqi forces began assessing the damage inflicted on the ancient city of Nimrud, located 30 kilometers southeast of Mosul. They liberated this city on Sunday, marking one of the significant victories for government forces in recent days. General Zia al-Saadi, deputy commander of the Iraqi ground forces leading the operation, stated that ISIS militants have destroyed nearly all the archaeological remains of Assyrian civilization in this city. He added that during the ongoing operation to reclaim Mosul, they will undoubtedly find more archaeological sites that have been destroyed by this group. He said, 'Our information indicates that all archaeological sites and centers in the city of Mosul have been destroyed.' The discovery of treasures from the royal tombs of Nimrud in the late 1980s was one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. The Iraqi government states that the Islamic State group, which seized these areas in 2014, destroyed archaeological sites the following year using heavy military vehicles. The Associated Press adds that as a result of mortar shelling in the Tahrir neighborhood of Mosul by ISIS, one child was killed and at least three others were injured. Iraqi forces have evacuated them from the conflict area. Reports from the Kurdish television network Rudaw show several families transferring their injured children, including a young girl, a teenage boy, and an infant, with bloodied bodies to an Iraqi military vehicle. U.S.-led coalition fighter jets are supporting the advance of Iraqi special forces in this operation. Iraqi forces continue their advance towards Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city and the main base of ISIS in the country, from several fronts. The Iraqi special forces have been the spearhead of these attacks and have begun advancing into the city, but they are still engaged in battles to capture the eastern outskirts of Mosul. The operation to liberate Mosul began on October 17. After relatively rapid advances in the outskirts of the city, their progress has slowed since reaching the outskirts of Mosul. It is estimated that more than one million people still reside in the city of Mosul. Iraqi special forces have been advancing slowly since reaching the eastern outskirts of Mosul last week to avoid civilian casualties. In contrast, ISIS militants are using various methods, including armored vehicles for suicide bombings, to counter Iraqi forces in the densely populated urban fabric.