PM Abadi visiting west Mosul (Rudaw)
Iraqi propaganda again obscured what was going on in west
Mosul. First, the Golden Division freed
the Thawra neighborhood in the center of the city on April 18. Then on April 19
a spokesman for the Rapid Reaction Division claimed
that 30% of the Old City had been taken, while a police major had it at 40%.
The major said this was the result of 38 days of fighting in the district. The
police have largely been on pause for the last month however, and no
neighborhoods were named as being liberated. The Federal Police also reported
that it was destroying Islamic State sites in the district, fighting in Farouq
Street like they have for weeks now, and attempting
to connect with the Golden Division in Thawra. All the previous reports had the
police advancing block by block with no large sections being seized. To add to
the confusion, the daily
map released by the government showed the Golden Division’s latest movement
in the center of the city, but no change in the Old City. Not only that it had
new sections in the north being taken, yet this was not announced in any press
releases. Recently the 9th Division and Hashd took the towns that
were just outside of the city, but nothing else has been heard from them since
then. The Iraqi government is notorious for exaggerating and making claims
before they happen and it would seem this was another example.
(Ninewa Media Center)
Prime Minister Haider Abadi visited the
Ninewa Operations Command and walked through part of liberated east Mosul.
Besides the photo opportunity this was an important move for the leader of the
country to be seen in the city and showing his concerns for the population.
While the east is liberated and the citizens have shown huge determination to
restart their lives there are still major problems. There’s been no serious
rebuilding, there are no services like water and electricity, few jobs are
available, government workers who are back are not paid, and there is a lack of
cash as a result leading most people to buy on credit or borrow from others.
Baghdad and the Ninewa government claim they have a plan to put Mosul back
together, but there are little signs of it yet.
Al
Mada had an article on Tal Afar. The town was surrounded by the Hashd
months ago, but nothing has happened since. It is still up in the air whether
the Hashd or the Iraqi forces will take the village. Turkey has warned against
the latter being involved. What is obvious is that will not happen until Mosul
falls. Al Mada talked with a Turkmen parliamentarian who was quoted that Abadi
did not want to anger Ankara anymore and that was one reason why nothing has
happened. The MP speculated that Baghdad would have to get the Americans
involved in any future operation, and that would take care of Turkey’s
concerns.
The Canadian
Broadcast Corporation was allowed to talk to two captured IS members in
east Mosul. Both claimed they had joined to buy medicine for their sick family.
They also said that they had only menial jobs. One was a cook, and another was
a guard. Their jailor didn't seem to believe them. He stated all insurgents
lied about what they did so they would not get in more trouble. Over 1,000 IS
suspects have been arrested. Many are detained at Hamam al-Alil where displaced
are first screened after leaving Mosul. Others are picked up in the constant
raids that are being carried out in east Mosul. They are supposed to see a
judge to determine their cases, but the staff is very small and overwhelmed
with the number of cases. That will mean many of these men will stay in
detention indefinitely, and even ones that are referred to court may far no
better due to a lack of capacity.
Finally, there were more civilian casualties in the city.
The Islamic State fired mortars at both east and west Mosul leaving 6 dead and
18 injured. Iraqi shelling and coalition air strikes were blamed for another 50
killed and 57 wounded. All sides are contributing to the growing number of
civilians who have lost their lives and been injured in the fighting.
SOURCES
Adel,
Loaa, "Security forces foil IS attack on central Mosul," Iraqi News,
4/19/17
Arraf, Jane, “As Iraqi Forces Encircle Mosul, ISIS Unleashes
New Level Of Brutality On Civilians,” NPR, 4/18/17
Baghdad
Post, "50 Iraqis killed, 51 wounded in airstrikes in Mosul," 4/19/17
-
“Exclusive: Map reveals latest developments in battle for Mosul,” 4/19/17
-
"ISIS terrorists target left bank of Mosul with mortar shells," Iraqi
News, 4/19/17
Iraq
Oil Report, “Inside Mosul: April 19, 2017,” 4/19/17
Al Maalomah, “Saadi announced the opening of safe passages
to remove civilians from al-Tanak neighborhood in Mosul,” 4/19/17
Al Mada, “Military operations to liberate Mosul enter their
seventh month,” 4/19/17
Mostafa,
Nehal, "Shelling in western Mosul leave casualties among civilians, IS
members," Iraqi News, 4/19/17
-
"Two kids wounded as Islamic State missile lands near eastern Mosul
school," Iraqi News, 4/19/17
Shafaaq
News, "URGENT: Two dead, wounded by bombardment in Mosul," 4/19/17
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Iraq Situation: UNHCR
Flash Update – 18 April 2017,” 4/18/17
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
“Mosul Humanitarian Crisis, 19 April 2017,” 4/19/17
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