The battle between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants in the city of Mosul continues house by house, with government troops getting closer to the Al-Nuri Mosque, where ISIS declared its caliphate. On Saturday, March 18, French news agency reported, citing Iraqi army commanders, that the advance of Iraqi military forces is slow due to the dense population in the crowded streets of Mosul, but they have managed to retake other parts of the ancient neighborhood of the city. Captain Fares Al-Zweidi, spokesperson for the special forces of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, mentioned the Al-Nuri Mosque in the historic area of Mosul, stating, "Our forces have reached 800 meters from the mosque." The Al-Nuri Mosque holds symbolic significance for ISIS, as it is where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, declared himself caliph in 2014, but Iraqi forces are on the verge of reclaiming it. Al-Zweidi added, "We are still facing difficulties, such as bad weather and very narrow streets that our military vehicles cannot enter. The war is now continuing street by street and house by house." The battle in the old areas of Mosul is the toughest phase that coalition forces face in fully reclaiming the city, and the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians complicates matters significantly. Iraqi forces captured the eastern part of Mosul earlier this winter, but the ancient and old part of the city is located in the west. According to the French news agency, Iraqi special forces have taken control of the Al-Arabia market and a grain silo from which the city of Mosul can be overseen. Iraqi forces had previously retaken key areas in western Mosul, including the airport, railway station, and government buildings. In this context, the Iraqi army has taken control of the governorate and the central bank in Mosul. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has "fled Mosul and hidden in the desert." An ISIS commander in Mosul has been killed. An Iraqi general stated that they have reclaimed 30% of western Mosul.
The Battle of Mosul Continues House by House
The battle for Mosul continues as Iraqi forces advance towards the symbolic Al-Nuri Mosque, where ISIS declared its caliphate. Despite slow progress due to civilian density and difficult terrain, Iraqi troops have recaptured significant areas. This battle is crucial as it represents a key phase in the fight against ISIS in Iraq.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Iraqi forces are engaged in intense street-by-street fighting to reclaim Mosul from ISIS, nearing the Al-Nuri Mosque where ISIS declared its caliphate. Progress is slow due to dense civilian populations and challenging terrain.
- Iraqi forces have retaken significant areas of western Mosul, including key infrastructure.
- The battle is complicated by the presence of hundreds of thousands of civilians.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The battle for Mosul is part of a larger campaign against ISIS, which declared a caliphate in 2014. The group's control over territory has posed a major threat to regional stability.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%