Mosul Campaign Day 77, Jan 1, 2017

Four new neighborhoods were freed in east Mosul, while fighting continued for several others. Karama, Intisar, Younis Sabawi, and Jaffa in the east were freed by a combination of the Golden Division and Federal Police. Salam was being cleared as well, and there was still a struggle for Sumer, Palestine, Siha, Nassir and Shaimaa. The Islamic State was at work as well. At least two people were wounded by mortar fire, and a reporter was injured in a separate incident. A suicide bomber killed four and wounded 11 in Karama, and eleven car bombs were destroyed in Karama, Nassir, and in the southeast. General Abdul Wahab Saadi from the Golden Division claimed that more than 60% of east Mosul had been freed so far. That was an exaggeration, as the Iraqi forces have still not really moved into any new areas yet. Karama, Intisar, etc. have all been fought over for two months. 40% would probably be a more realistic figure.

The army, police, and Hashd were moving forward too outside of Mosul. North of the city Malayeen, Kindi, and Arabi al-Thani were liberated. In the west, Shokran was freed, and the Mosul-Tal Skeif road secured by the Hashd and Federal Police. The latter may not have happened however as the Iraqi forces (ISF) were shelling Islamic State checkpoints on the road. The insurgents carried out three attacks in the north too launching several car bombs.

Agence France Presse reported on the internal displacement within Mosul. Some people were fleeing their neighborhoods, while others were sheltering in place. The government was providing some buses to try to help people get out of their areas. Many times this was happening in the middle of fighting making it very difficult and dangerous for these people.

Rudaw had a piece about rising tensions between the Peshmerga, ISF and Hashd east of Mosul. In the town of Somaqiyah the three forces meet. A Peshmerga commander claimed that the ISF and Hashd were handing out money to people to gain their support, and telling others to leave areas under Kurdish control. The Kurds have occupied a huge amount of land north and northeast of Mosul during the campaign. They claim it all as part of the disputed territories, but they signed an agreement with Baghdad to leave them after Mosul was liberated. The Kurds have gone back and forth over whether they will do that or not however, which was why they were complaining about the ISF and Hashd in Somaqiyah. For now they want to control all of the areas they have occupied.

Finally, since the start of the Mosul campaign on October 17 to December 31, 2016 4,375 deaths and 13,963 wounded have been reported in the press. Because of government censorship of its casualties and lack of access to the frontline by reporters the real figures are likely much higher. The civilian population of Ninewa has taken the brunt of the violence with 3,962 killed and 12,837 wounded. The Islamic State was responsible for executing 2,727 people, and Coalition air strikes were blamed for 315 civilian fatalities and 390 injured.

Mosul Campaign Casualties 10/17/16-12/31/16

4,375 Dead

1 US Sailor

1 Hashd al-Watani

2 Kurd Counterterrorism

16 Police

28 ISF

65 Peshmerga

82 Hashd

218 Soldiers

3,962 Civilians

13,963 Wounded

2 Hashd al-Watani

5 Police

59 Hashd

253 Peshmerga

353 ISF

454 Soldiers

12,837 Civilians

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, “Iraqi forces fully liberate southern Karama neighborhood,” Iraqi News, 1/1/17

Agence France Presse, “Iraq forces have retaken over 60% of east Mosul: commander,” 1/1/17

- “US general hands Iraqis fighting in Mosul vote of confidence,” 1/1/17

Al Alam, “2,000 ISIL Terrorists Killed in Mosul Liberation Operation,” 1/1/17

- “Iraq’s Joint Military Forces Gain Two Strategic ISIS-Held Regions in Mosul City,” 1/1/17

- "Iraqi Drone Attack Kills 20 ISIL Terrorists in Mosul," 1/1/17

- “MOSUL VIDEO: Iraqi Forces in Battle with ISIS Terrorists in Second Phase of Operations,” 1/1/17

- “Top ISIS Leader Killed in Eastern Mosul,” 1/1/17

ARA News, “Iraqi forces target ISIS key supply line north Mosul,” 1/1/17

Buratha News, “Team outlines the military situation in Ninewa We Are Coming operation for Sunday January 1, 2017,” 1/1/17

Coles, Isabel and al-Rubaie, Ali, "Islamic State attacks Iraqi police near Najaf, kills seven," 1/1/17

Dunlop, W.G., “Frightened civilians flee as Iraq forces battle IS in Mosul,” Agence France Presse, 12/31/16

Face Iraq, "Military source: forces took control of the road linking the cities of Mosul and Tal Skeif," 1/1/17

- "Sources: Military Intelligence destroyed two car bombs and killed six terrorists in Argoob," 1/1/17

Al Forat, "Photographer Harbi Hussein al-Khafaji injured on the left coast of Mosul," 1/1/17

Hemid, Leyla, “Iraqi Forces Enter Three More Neighborhoods of Mosul,” Bas News, 1/1/17

Iddon, Paul, “Mosul operation will drag on into early, mid-2017, analysts predict,” Rudaw, 1/1/17

Al Maalomah, "Counter-terrorism forces destroyed five car bombs east Mosul," 1/1/17

- “Defense Ministry announced killing 38 Daesh members southeast Nineveh,” 1/1/17

- "Destroyed several car bombs during the process of Ninewa We Are Coming operation," 1/1/17

- "The martyrdom of four displaced people and injuring 11 in a suicide bombing in Mosul," 1/1/17

- “Ninewa Council: Iraqi forces have not committed any breaches since the start of operations,” 1/1/17

- “Security forces freed Younis Sabawi in Nineveh,” 1/1/17

Al Mada, "Killing 152 Daesh members and destruction of three car bombs in Mosul," 1/1/17

- “Mosul operation resume freeing five neighborhoods with the assistance of the Federal and Rapid Reaction Police,” 1/1/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, “Dead bodies of Islamic State fighters dumped with trash: Nineveh official,” Iraqi News, 1/1/17

- "Iraqi forces recapture more districts in eastern Mosul, kill 19 militants," Iraqi News, 1/1/17

- "Updated: 3 Mosul districts, strategic street recaptured: army, police," Iraqi News, 1/1/17

Rudaw, “’Historic cooperation’ of Kurdish, Iraqi forces not evident in ‘disputed areas,’” 1/1/17

- “’No substantial barriers’ to Iraqi army in E. Mosul, says commander,” 1/1/17