Iraq: Operation to Liberate Last Areas Under ISIS Control in Mosul Begins

Iraqi military officials say that the security forces and army have begun the final phase of liberating Mosul by attacking the remaining parts of the city that are under the control of the so-called Islamic State group. The Iraqi army, supported by a U.S.-led coalition, stated at the end of May that operations against the remaining members of the 'Islamic State' group were limited to an area of about eight square kilometers. This area includes the old city of Mosul, which is expected to be the scene of heavy and intense battles. The Joint Operations Command in Iraq announced on June 6 that military forces have attacked ISIS militants on the western bank of the Tigris River to reclaim 'remaining areas that have not yet been liberated.' One day prior to this statement, the Iraqi Air Force had distributed leaflets in Mosul urging residents to 'quickly' evacuate the old city area. Iraqi military officials stated on Saturday that the army has attacked the Shifa neighborhood and the Republic Hospital, the federal police have targeted the Zanjili area, and the special anti-terrorism forces have also stormed the Al-Sahih al-Wali neighborhood. However, this statement did not clarify whether a specific attack on the old city of Mosul had occurred. It is estimated that the liberation of Mosul, both strategically and symbolically, will have a significant impact on the central government in Baghdad and against the members of the so-called Islamic State group. It was in the Al-Nuri Mosque in the old city of Mosul that the individual known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, declared a caliphate in 2014. Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, has been the scene of tension, conflict, and violence multiple times since the U.S. invasion of the country in 2003. Currently, there are also concerns about the complete liberation of the city and operations in the remaining areas. The United Nations and international organizations have warned in recent months about the dangers of battles for civilians, and the distribution of air leaflets in recent days has increased concerns among human rights groups regarding the status and safety of civilians in these areas. Reuters quoted a resident of the old city of Mosul as saying, 'We are waiting for death at any moment; either from bombing or from hunger.' This Iraqi citizen stated that adults currently eat one meal a day, which is either bread or lentil soup. The operation to reclaim Mosul by the Iraqi armed forces, with coalition support, began last October. Simultaneously, Syrian militants supported by the United States are advancing toward Raqqa, the main center of ISIS presence in Syria.