The Iraqi Forces (ISF) were paused for the ninth day in
Mosul, but preparing for the up coming battle to free the other half of the
city. For the second time, the Iraqi air force dropped millions of flyers
over west Mosul. Those included news of the government’s victories in east
Mosul, how life was returning there, and how civilians should act during
military operations to avoid casualties. General Najim Jabouri told
the press that west Mosul would be cleared in two months. He was one of the few
Iraqis to talk about how it would be a difficult fight with the narrow streets
and large numbers of people, but he was sure the ISF was up to the task after
the experience it gained in east Mosul. Finally, the Iraqi and Coalition were
both said to be carrying out more air
strikes to soften up the Islamic State defenses.
While General Jabouri seemed to be inserting some realism on
the coming battle, other sources were still pumping out the government’s
propaganda line. Federal Police spokesman Captain Raed Jawdat claimed
that the Islamic State was losing control of its forces. Al Sumaria reported
that IS didn’t have many forces left and were forced to use women as suicide
bombers as a result. So much of this has come out it is impossible to tell what
is true or not. The only thing that can be verified is that IS is losing the
war and will soon be expelled from Mosul.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a new report
over its concerns about the screening process displaced people have to go
through in Ninewa. HRW was worried about a Hashd group run by Abdul Rahim
al-Shammiri that was taking displaced people from camps that were not on
government wanted lists. Shammiri’s Hashd confirmed they were detaining people.
HRW felt that they were not a qualified group, and that only the government
should be screening people for IS sympathizers.
SOURCES
Al Forat, “Maj. Gen. al-Jubouri: Daesh will spend the whole
two months in Mosul,” 2/2/17
- “Throwing millions of leaflets on West Mosul including
instructions for the safety of residents,” 2/2/17
Human Rights Watch, “Iraq: Men Fleeing Mosul Held in
Secret,” 2/2/17
Al Mada, “Federal Police: Daesh loses control of its members
in right bank of Mosul,” 2/2/17
- “Joint Operations announces third phase of operation plans
completed,” 2/2/17
Neuhof, Florian, “In a Mosul Hospital, Nothing left bu
Scavengers and the ISIS Dead,” Daily Beast, 2/1/17
Al Sumaria, “Local Source: Daesh began relying on women in
Mosul after defection of a majority of its members,” 2/2/17
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