The Golden Division was said to be finally assaulting the
Old City, but that claimw as unclear. The unit was fighting in the Tanak
neighborhood, which was declared freed
on April 13, and in Thawra.
There was also a report that the
unit was pushing on the Fifth Bridge across the Tigris. The problem with that
is the Golden Division is in the center and west of Mosul, and the Fifth Bridge
is all the way on the other side of the city to the east. Also Tanak and Thawra
have been fought over since the end of March, so the division has not entered any
new areas yet. At the same time Iraqi propaganda often exaggerates progress so
these may be new areas the unit was fighting over.
The police however were making a new push on the Old
City. That was in the Bab al-Tob, Bab Sinjar, and Bab al-Jadid neighborhoods.
Bab al-Tob was officially declared liberated on March 15.
The Federal Police were said
to now have control of the areas around the Grand Mosque, but those types of
comments have been made before. Overall, he police moved 200 meters into the
district. The tough defenses of the Islamic State, the narrow streets, and
dense layout of the buildings have proven a major impediment to the Iraqi
police. That caused a month long pause in operations as the Golden Division
advanced up the center of the city to push up along the flank of the Old City.
The police have now moved back on the offensive, but it is probably still a
tough fight ahead.
There was another report of the Islamic State using chemical
weapons in the battle for Mosul. An army officer claimed that
chlorine filled mortar shells were fired at the Abar neighborhood in central
west Mosul. 7 soldiers were injured as a result. Nearly every week there are
similar stories. None have been confirmed, but IS has been known to use
chlorine before.
Finally, there has been poor weather and heavy rains in
Ninewa for the last several weeks. Two pontoon bridges across the Tigris River
south of Mosul have been closed as a
result. This has cut off Hamam al-Alil, which is the main security checkpoint
for people fleeing Mosul. As a result trucks cannot bring in supplies to the
town.
SOURCES
Abdul-Zahra, Qassim, “Iraq: IS launches chlorine gas attacks
in western Mosul,” Associated Press, 2/15/17
Agence France Presse, “Iraq forces make Mosul gains, but
anti-IS war far from over,” 2/15/17
Asia Satellite TV, “Troops of the anti-terrorism forces are
advancing in the western axis and drone manufacturing officer has been killed
in west Mosul,” 4/15/17
Baghdad Post, “Federal Police control Hadbaa Minaret
vicinity in Mosul,” 4/16/17
- "Iraqi forces continue fights against ISIS in Mosul's Old
City," 4/15/17
- “Security forces storm old city of Mosul,” 4/16/17
Iraq Oil Report, "Inside Mosul: March 28, 2017," 3/29/17
Al Maalomah, “Nineveh Council: Security forces are
approaching the liberation of the Grand Mosque in Mosul,” 4/15/17
Al Mada, “The joint forces control the western entrance of
Mosul after two months of fighting,” 4/15/17
- “Mosul operations use “smart missiles” to neutralize
civilian casualties and damaging buildings,” 4/15/17
Manisera, Sara, “Mosul civilians: ‘Who knows who was
shooting?’” 4/16/17
Mostafa, Mohamed, “Mosuls’ strategic Old City under full
Iraqi troops siege: command,” Iraqi News, 4/16/17
Mostafa, Nehal, “Flooding cuts off aid supplies, escape
route from west Mosul,” Iraqi News, 4/16/17
- “Iraqi troops gain control on strategic regions in western
Mosul,” Iraqi News, 4/16/17
- "Iraqi troops raid al-Thawra district, western Mosul,"
Iraqi News, 4/16/17
New Sabah, “The joint forces cordoned off the old
neighborhoods of Mosul and were preparing to storm them,” 4/16/17
- “The Rapid Response Division destroyed Daesh headquarters
in the Midan neighborhood in Mosul,” 4/15/17
NINA, “Anti-Terrorism Forces Advancing In The Western Axis,
Kill Senior Official Of Daesh,” 4/15/17
Reuters, “Iraqi forces making new push toward Old City in
Mosul,” 4/16/17
Sobir, Shoguna, “Iraqi Troops Drive Closer to Nuri Mosque in
West Mosul,” Bas News, 4/16/17
- “Pontoon Bridges Over Tigris River in Mosul Unusable,” Bas
News, 4/16/17
Xinhua, "Iraqi forces continue fighting IS militants in city
center of western Mosul," 3/16/17
- “Iraqi forces push into old city of western Mosul amid
fierce clashes,” 4/16/17
- "Iraqi forces recapture new neighborhood from IS
militants," 4/14/17
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