Operation to Retake the Old City of Mosul Begins

Iraqi forces began their operation on Sunday, June 18, to reclaim the old city of Mosul from the Islamic State (ISIS). According to the French news agency, Iraqi military officials report that this assault involves a joint presence of the army, counter-terrorism forces, and police. Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq, has been under ISIS control for about three years, during which the group declared the establishment of a caliphate in the city. Most neighborhoods in Mosul have now been retaken from ISIS, but reclaiming the old city, which is a densely populated area with narrow alleys and considered the last significant stronghold of ISIS in Mosul, has faced difficulties. Reports indicate that the U.S.-led coalition began its airstrikes to support this operation from midnight, and the ground assault by Iraqi forces in the old city of Mosul commenced early Sunday morning. The old city is located west of the Tigris River, and according to the French news agency, while life in neighborhoods of Mosul east of the Tigris has somewhat returned to normal, continuous machine-gun fire is heard from the west of the Tigris, and smoke from the bombings is visible. The United Nations announced on Friday that over 100,000 residents still remain in the old city of Mosul, and ISIS may use them as 'human shields.' Bruno Geddo, a representative of the UN Refugee Agency, stated that ISIS members are detaining civilians and forcing them into the old city. This UN representative added that 'there is almost no food, water, or electricity left in this area, and civilians are in a worsening situation of poverty and fear.' Since the operation to retake Mosul began nine months ago, approximately 862,000 residents have been displaced, but during this time, 195,000 of them have managed to return to their homes in liberated neighborhoods. The Islamic State captured Mosul in 2014, marking the most significant defeat for Iraqi forces in their battles against ISIS. The operation to retake Mosul began in October, with the eastern half of the city liberated in January. A month later, the operation to retake western Mosul was launched. In this context, Iraq claims to have reclaimed a border area near a special U.S. base in Syria from ISIS.