Siege of ISIS in an Area 'Spanning Eight Square Kilometers' in Mosul

The Iraqi army says it is currently fighting members of the group known as the Islamic State in an area measuring eight square kilometers in western Mosul; however, this area includes the old city of Mosul, which is expected to be the scene of heavy and intense battles. Official military officials in Iraq stated on May 30 that their forces have retaken areas assigned to them, but they are 'prepared to support any other forces if an order is issued by the Prime Minister.' Local reporters have also reported that three western areas of Mosul, including the old city, remain under the control of ISIS members. The recent operations of the Iraqi army and its special forces aim to reclaim an area that, although not large, is densely populated. Estimates suggest that nearly 500 ISIS militants remain in the old areas of Mosul, hiding among the civilian population and using them as human shields. The old city of Mosul is also home to the 'Al-Nuri Mosque,' where the figure known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, declared the caliphate in 2014. The operations of the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga, and forces allied with the central government to reclaim Mosul, the most important city in the country that was captured by ISIS, began in late October of last year with the support of a coalition led by the United States. The United Nations and other international organizations have warned in recent months about the dangers of battles for civilians and expressed concern about a new wave of displacement of citizens. On May 28, the United Nations warned that nearly 200,000 people from Mosul might be displaced as a result of the ongoing operations to reclaim the last remaining areas. Meanwhile, just one day before the release of new reports from Mosul, dozens were killed and injured during a series of suicide operations in Baghdad and Basra; operations that are said to have been carried out to divert attention from the ongoing battles of the Iraqi army and the U.S.-led coalition in Mosul. In this context, the Iraqi army is striving to liberate Mosul 'before Ramadan.'