House-to-House Battle of Iraqi Government Forces with ISIS in Western Mosul

The house-to-house battle between government forces and fighters of the Islamic State group, ISIS, continues fiercely in the neighborhoods of western Mosul. Reports indicate that the strong resistance from ISIS fighters has slowed down the operations of Iraqi forces supported by the United States. According to Reuters from points near the front lines, the advance of Iraqi forces on Monday was slower compared to Sunday, which marked the beginning of their new offensive operations. The historic section of Mosul and a small neighborhood on its northern outskirts are still under the control of ISIS fighters. Mosul was the capital of the self-proclaimed caliphate of this group in Iraqi territory. The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern on Monday about the situation of civilians living in the old part of Mosul. According to United Nations estimates, about 100,000 people still live in these areas. An emergency activities official from the committee in Mosul stated, "Every day, more people, including children and the elderly, are getting injured. Unfortunately, many of them have lost their lives before reaching our facilities." A senior commander of Iraq's counter-terrorism forces at the Mosul battlefront stated, "This is the final stage of the offensive operation to liberate Mosul." According to Iraqi military officials, ISIS fighters are now moving house-to-house using holes they have created in the walls of buildings to avoid aerial detection. The Iraqi army estimates that about 300 ISIS fighters are currently engaged in battle, while their number at the beginning of the Mosul liberation operation in October 2016 was around 6,000. Civilians trapped in the old parts of Mosul, with narrow alleys and old buildings, have no access to food, drinking water, and health facilities. The charity Save the Children stated on Monday, "As the Mosul operation enters a phase that seems to be the deadliest part of this operation, about 50,000 children are at serious risk." Reuters reminds that the fall of Mosul essentially marks the end of the semi-Iraqi 'caliphate' of this group, which was declared by its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the summer of 2014. At that time, the Islamic State group controlled vast areas of Iraqi and Syrian territory. The Iraqi army initially hoped to retake Mosul by the end of 2016, but the strengthening of the fighters' positions in the residential fabric of the city has prolonged this battle. ISIS fighters use suicide attacks with motorcycles, planting mines and explosive traps, and firing mortars and snipers against Iraqi forces. Given that Iraqi forces have been unable to guarantee the security of exit routes from these areas, hundreds of civilians have been killed while fleeing from conflict zones in recent weeks. According to the United Nations, fighters shoot at people who want to escape on foot or by boat as part of their tactic of using civilians as human shields. In Syria, ISIS forces are also retreating, and the city of Raqqa, their center in Syria, is now besieged by Syrian Democratic Forces fighting with U.S. support. According to aid group statistics, about 850,000 residents of Mosul, about one-third of its total population before the battles began, have fled this city and are now living in the homes of relatives or in refugee camps. According to the Iraqi Prime Minister's office, Haider al-Abadi began his regional trip on Monday upon arriving in Saudi Arabia, aimed at reconciliation and increased cooperation in the fight against terrorism. He will also visit Iran and Kuwait during this trip.