Iraqi Forces Advance Towards Mosul Airport

Iraqi forces, supported by the United States, advanced towards Mosul Airport on Sunday, February 19. According to Reuters, the Iraqi army announced that Mosul Airport is the first target for reclaiming the western part of Mosul, which is under the control of the Islamic State (ISIS). Statements from the Iraqi army indicate that in the first hours of the attack, Iraqi forces captured several villages and a power station, killing several ISIS militants. Hours earlier, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi officially announced the start of operations to reclaim Mosul. The capture of western Mosul by the Iraqi army would mean the liberation of the city. Mr. Abadi stated in a televised speech that "our forces have begun the liberation of citizens from the terror of ISIS." Prior to this speech, the Iraqi Air Force had dropped leaflets in western Mosul, informing citizens and residents of the area that operations would soon begin. The Iraqi army, its allied militias, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, with the help of the US-led coalition, have captured the main part of eastern Mosul. Mosul, which was captured by the self-proclaimed Islamic caliphate at the height of its advances in 2014, is the most important city in Iraq that this extremist group took control of. The Iraqi army's operations to reclaim the city began at the end of October. In another statement, the Iraqi army warned ISIS fighters to "lay down their weapons and surrender." Estimates suggest that between 650,000 to 850,000 civilians, along with some ISIS militants, are present in western Mosul. Simultaneously with the distribution of the Iraqi army's leaflets, the United Nations has called for the protection of civilians and prioritizing this issue. General Stephen Townsend, the commander of US forces in Iraq, expressed hope in January that the complete capture of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, and the liberation of these two important cities from ISIS control, would be completed "within the next six months." Meanwhile, Reuters reported, citing Iraqi security sources, that ISIS suicide attacks on an Iraqi army checkpoint in eastern Mosul left five dead. According to this report, three soldiers and two suicide attackers were killed in the attack. Security sources also stated that about two people were injured during these two suicide attacks.