Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Is The Battle To Retake Mosul From The Islamic State Going To Be A Mess?


Washington Post: Battle to banish Islamic State from Mosul could become a mess

IRBIL, Iraq — The battle plans to oust the Islamic State from the city of Mosul are in place, but an uneasy mix of forces fighting against the militants could delay the fight or ignite separate conflicts.

Preparations for the offensive have sped up in recent weeks, after officials in Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government agreed on a detailed military plan to retake the northern city. But thornier issues are still being worked out, such as the role of Iraq’s Shiite militias and the question of who will control the land after it is retaken.

The battle for Iraq’s third-largest city will be the biggest yet by Iraqi forces, who are backed by the U.S.-led coalition. The city, home to more than a million people, is the militants’ last major stronghold in the country.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Every battle that has been fought against the Islamic State in an urban environment has resulted in that town or city being utterly destroyed. I expect the same for Mosul.

More News On The Preparations For The Military Offensive To Retake Mosul

As offensive nears, Islamic State rigs Mosul with bombs -- Reuters
Pentagon Says Islamic State Fortifying Mosul Stronghold in Iraq -- Bloomberg
Isis setting up booby traps in Mosul, using children as spies in fight against Iraqi and coalition forces -- IBTimes
Pentagon: ISIS preparing for Mosul offensive -- The Hill
Coalition forces prepare to retake Mosul from IS -- SBS
Shiite militia arrive near Mosul amid growing tensions between Ankara and Baghdad -- RUDAW
15,000 Sunni Tribal Militiamen to Participate in Mosul Liberation Operation -- Latin American Herald Tribune
Inside the air base where U.S. and Iraqi forces prepare to retake Mosul from ISIS -- CBS
U.S. troops' vital role in major battle looming with ISIS -- CBS
Battle plans: retaking Mosul -- Economist

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't wait until the US and Iraq begin bombing the city; Then the Russians and Syrians get to complain about the 'Human Rights abuses'.

Anonymous said...

My only question is, will the dirty bomb be detonated at the beginning or the end of the battle.

Jay Farquharson said...

>>Yesterday the Turkish President Erdogan made a remark that points into that direction. As the British journalist Elijah Magnier summarized it:

Elijah J. Magnier @EjmAlrai
Erdogan: #Turkey will participate in #Mosul just like it did in #Jarablus.Army doesn't take orders from #Iraq PM who should know his limits.

4:06 AM - 11 Oct 2016

"Like Jarablus" was an interesting comparison. The Turks and their proxies took Jarablus in center-north Syria from the Islamic State without any fight and without any casualties from fighting. ISIS had moved away from the city before the Turks walked in. There obviously had been a deal made.

That's why I replied this to Magnier's tweet above:

Moon of Alabama @MoonofA
The Turks will pay off ISIS in Mosul to leave early just like they did in Jarablus?

5:58 AM - 12 Oct 2016

Three hours later this rumor from a well connected Syrian historian and journalist in London answered that question:

Nizar Nayouf @nizarnayouf
Breaking news:Sources in #London say:“#US& #Saudi_Arabia concluded an agreement to let #ISIS leave #Mosul secretly& safely to #Syria"!

9:28 AM - 12 Oct 2016

Erdogan predicts that his troops and proxy forces will march into Mosul just like they marched into Jarablus: In a peaceful walk, without any fight, into a city free of Jihadis.

The Saudis and the U.S. arranged for that.

The U.S. bombed the most important SAA position in Deir Ezzor so that ISIS, now with the help of its cadres from Mosul, can take over the city. A nice place to keep it holed up in east-Syria until it can further be used in this or that imperial enterprise.<<

http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/10/the-salafist-principality-isis-paid-off-to-leave-mosul-and-to-take-deir-ezzor.html#comments

RRH said...

Yup, and they've bombed the bridges in the area to cut it off from intervention from the SAA and friends. Everything is being done to keep the north corridor Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon closed.