According to an Iraqi commander, the country's forces, supported by the United States, began a new operation to besiege the old part of Mosul on Thursday, May 21, one week after their previous operation to drive out Islamic State militants. Sami al-Arathi, a commander of the Iraqi special forces, told the Associated Press that the overall plan of the operation has changed and that after observing difficulties in advancing from the southern fronts, the offensive operation to capture the old part of the city is now being conducted from the northern fronts. Simultaneously, with the attacks from the northern fronts by the Iraqi army and federal police, special forces units are advancing from the industrial neighborhoods located in the west of the city towards the old center of Mosul. A spokesperson for the U.S.-led international coalition also stated at a press conference on Wednesday, "Advancing from multiple axes has presented the enemy with numerous puzzles that it cannot respond to." According to him, over the past week, Iraqi forces have regained more than 30 square kilometers from Islamic State militants. On Thursday, hundreds of civilians living in these neighborhoods fled the fighting. Iraqi soldiers are trying to assist them. Several injured civilians were evacuated from areas near the fighting, and a woman who appeared to have lost both of her legs was quickly evacuated from the area by an armored vehicle. The Associated Press reminds that the operation to liberate Mosul began in October, and the eastern part of the city was retaken in early 2016. The battle for densely populated areas and older sections in western Mosul has progressed relatively slowly. Mosul and one-third of Iraq's territory were captured by the Islamic State group about three years ago during a sudden onslaught from Syria into northern Iraq. Today, only a small portion of the western neighborhoods of Mosul remains under the control of this group. The United Nations estimates that about 350,000 people are trapped in the western neighborhoods of Mosul controlled by the Islamic State group. Due to the recent fighting, about 11,000 people have fled these areas. The spokesperson for the U.S.-led international coalition stated that although the defensive power of the Islamic State in Mosul has been severely weakened, it is still impossible to predict how long the liberation operation of this city will take.
Iraqi Forces Begin Siege of Old Mosul
Iraqi forces, backed by the U.S., have launched a new operation to besiege the old part of Mosul, changing tactics to advance from the north due to difficulties in the south. Hundreds of civilians are fleeing the fighting, and the situation remains dire with many trapped under Islamic State control. The liberation of Mosul is critical as it represents a significant step in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iraqi forces, supported by the U.S., have launched a new operation to besiege the old part of Mosul, changing their approach to advance from the north. The fighting has led to significant civilian displacement as the battle against the Islamic State continues.
- Over 30 square kilometers have been regained from ISIS in the recent operation.
- Approximately 350,000 civilians are estimated to be trapped in the western neighborhoods of Mosul.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The battle for Mosul is part of a larger conflict against ISIS, which captured significant territory in Iraq in 2014. The liberation of Mosul is seen as essential for restoring Iraqi sovereignty and stability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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