Tensions Are Now Rising Among Allies Fighting To Retake Mosul From The Islamic State

Iraqi troops and Kurdish fighters advanced on Islamic State's last major Iraqi stronghold of Mosul on Monday, liberating villages en route. Mark Kelly reports. Image: Reuters

Wall Street Journal: Tensions Arise Among Allies Fighting to Retake ISIS-Held Mosul

On second day of offensive, Kurdish fighters accuse the Iraqi army of inaction

BADANA KEBIRA, Iraq—Tensions emerged Tuesday among allied forces fighting to retake the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State, as Kurdish fighters accused Iraqi government forces of inaction on only the operation’s second day.

The long-awaited assault on the extremist group’s last major Iraqi stronghold began Monday with rapid advances by a contingent of Kurdish fighters, who stormed nine nearby villages in the first phase of the effort to retake Iraq’s second-largest city. But the pace slowed Tuesday as the Kurdish fighters, known as Peshmerga, consolidated their gains and prepared for the next push.

They also criticized their partners in the Iraqi military.

“The Iraqi army hasn’t moved even a bit,” said the Peshmerga’s Gen. Sihad Barzani, brother of Iraqi Kurdistan’s president, Masoud Barzani. “The plan was us taking villages, and then the Iraqi army takes some of them. They didn’t.”

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WNU Editor: This is the second day of the offensive .... and the coalition to retake the city are now bickering. Sighhh .... this alliance is not going to last. For a better understanding on what would happen if the worst case scenario unfolds ..... Why the Battle for Mosul Could Become a Total Disaster (Daniel L. Davis, National Interest).