On October 15, the joint forces of the US-led coalition, the Iraqi government, the pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) and the Kurdish Peshmerga launched the long-awaited military operation to liberate the last ISIS major stronghold in Iraq – Mosul. Since Saturday, Mosul and the nearby areas have been the target of massive shelling and bombing campaigns by the US artillery and the US-led coalition’s air power.
The goal of the first phase of the ongoing offensive is to seccure the northeastern and southern Mosul countryside before storming the city itself.
On Oct. 16, the Iraqi Army’s 9th Division and the PMU liberated the city of Bashiqa from ISIS. The city is located in the northeastern Mosul countryside. The Peshmerga also joined the operation northeast of Mosul. The Kurdish fighters will block ISIS escape routers and receive and screen refugees but not enter the city.
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On October 17, the PMU and the Iraqi military continued operations in the area, liberating the Mishraq Sulphur Factory near Kubayah, the Al-Hamdaniya District, Besatiliyah, al-Khazir, the Asyrian village of Nimrud, Hamam ‘Alil and the area of al-Hawd southeast of Mosul city.
The Iraqi Army’s 9th Armored Division are advancing towards Hamam ‘Alil
#Iraqi Army 9th Armored Division this morning pushing forward and defeating #ISIS in largest town south of #Mosul Hammam al-Alil pic.twitter.com/GOxVHnXLjW
— Iraqi PMU English (@pmu_english) October 17, 2016
The Iraqi artillery was pounding ISIS targets near Mosul on October 17
#Iraqi Artillery units coordinating with Iraqi Army & Iraqi Special forces directing strikes on #ISIS in south #Mosul battles this morning pic.twitter.com/1YSrkzHpOo
— Iraqi PMU English (@pmu_english) October 17, 2016
In total about 30,000-40,000 fighters are involved in the operation. The widely promoted by the mainstream media Kurdish Peshmerga force is estimated up to 4,000 fighters – a merely 10% of the ground force. They will not participate in the sotrm of Mosul, securing its western countryside.
The PMU and the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) remain the main striking force of the anti-ISIS coalition.
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Photos from the Nineveh Plains
Gwer near Mosul
The Iraqi Armed Forces’ 9th Armoured Division at Gwer
The Iraqi Federal Police’s artillery units strike ISIS targetts in Mosul’s outskirts
Good luck!
Many of the ISIS are already by the US transfered to Syria border
These operation needed to be launched Spring of 2016. The Iraqi military is painstakingly slow to act and react, and their progress is slower then the SAA’s progress. The Militia are going to have to take the initiatives here to lead the battle if they wish for results before the US election. They need victory quickly before Hillary has the chance to win. Cause she intends to destroy Iraq and Lebanon and Syria for her Jewish son in law is is an Israeli citizen and lives in Tel Aviv.
Reports of convoys vans and cars leaving Mosul with massive amounts of currency and precious items headed for Dayr al-Zawr would like to know the accuracy of that.
I see field guns in the desert – are they aimed at somewhere in Mosul? Isn’t that endangering civilians? Or is it true that ISIL have already vacated the city and now have to face 80km of Syrian desert, with the risk of being bombed by the (Ha!) ‘Coalition’ – they’re heading for Dier Ezzor on a per-arranged schedule. This is gong to get ugly!!!