Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Mosul Campaign Day 85, Jan 9, 2017


The Islamic State’s defenses finally appeared to be breaking in east Mosul. The Federal and Rapid Reaction police freed Dumiz and Palestine in the southeast, while the Golden Division also took Baladiyat in the northeast. The latter was seizing the ground around the Mosul University next door for an eventual assault. Sukar to the north of that neighborhood has been declared liberated three times, but was still being fought over. Furqan and Atibaa, which were freed on January 7, are now being cleared. A member of the Ninewa Council claimed that 85% of the eastern half of the city was now under government control. That may be too high, but the majority of the Left Coast is definitely now occupied.

General Najm al-Jabouri from the Ninewa Operations Command and the Golden Division spokesman Sabah Numan both speculated that east Mosul could be freed in days. Whether its days or weeks it definitely looks like half of the city will be taken this month.

The Islamic State is still putting up a fight for every neighborhood. The militants were shooting at displaced families attempting to flee the fighting in Sumer and Wahda. Four car bombs in Palestine, 3 in Dumiz and Palestine, and one each in Baladiyat and Furqan were destroyed. Mortar and rocket fire on Muthanna, Rafaq, Wahda and some unknown locations killed six civilians and wounded 16 others. Finally, the insurgents attacked the Hashd in Adaya in the Tal Afar district.

For the last two days Iraq Oil Report had stories about Iraqi and foreign members of the Islamic State fighting each other. On January 8, Iraqis wanted to retreat to west Mosul from Sumer and Yarmja, but the foreigners refused to let them and opened fire to stop them. On January 9 they were reportedly arguing over evicting locals to turn their homes into firing positions. Since the day the Mosul operation began in October 2016 there have been stories of IS fighters and their families fleeing the city. None of that seemed to affect the sturdy defense the group was able to mount. IS turning on itself however if confirmed, could an important split.

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, "Federal Police forces kill 40 IS militants, destroy 4 car bombs near Mosul," Iraqi News, 1/9/17

AIN, “Freed three neighborhoods in the left coast of Mosul and killed 267 Daash today,” 1/9/17
- “Popular crowd kill ten Daash in foiled attack west of Mosul,” 1/9/17
- “Urgent..freed the entire district of Baladiyat in the left coast of Mosul,” 1/9/17

Buratha News, “Freed three neighborhoods in the left coast of Mosul and killed 267 Daash today,” 1/9/17
- “Recent development in the field during the liberation of Mosul until 19:15 Monday 09 01 2017,” 1/9/17

Face Iraq, “Sami Aradi: Anti-Terrorism Forces surrounded University of Mosul preparing to storm it,” 1/9/17

Hennessy-Fiske, Molly, “Iraqi troops reach Tigris River, but more challenges ahead in battle for Mosul,” Los Angeles Times, 1/9/17

Iraq oil Report, “Inside Mosul: Jan. 8, 2017,” 1/8/17
- “Inside Mosul: Jan. 9, 2017,” 1/9/17

Kalin, Stephen and Coles, Isabel, “Iraq special forces advance in east Mosul, close to linking with army,” Reuters, 1/9/17

Knights, Michael, “Mosul battle: Iraq gaining momentum against IS,” BBC, 1/9/17

Al Maalomah, “Nineveh Council announced the liberation of 85% of the left coast of Mosul and nearing the launch of attacking the right coast,” 1/9/17

Al Masalah, “Counter-terrorism forces progressing to control the left coast of Mosul,” 1/9/17
- “Freed entire neighborhood of Palestine west Mosul,” 1/9/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, "Infant killed, mother wounded by Islamic State fire in Mosul," Iraqi News, 1/9/17
- "Iraqi forces recapture 3 eastern Mosul districts," Iraqi News, 1/9/17
- "Militias say killed 10 Islamic State militants west of Mosul," Iraqi News, 1/9/17

New Sabah, “Anti-Terrorism forces free Baladiyat in east Mosul and raise the Iraqi flag over its buildings,” 1/9/17

Rudaw, "ISIS mortar shell rips through Mosul family as they flee for safety," 1/9/17

Shafaaq News, “Statement: 267 militants killed during fighting Daesh on Monday,” 1/9/17
- “Statement: Access to the bank of the Tigris and killed tens of Daash in the day’s battles,” 1/9/17


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