Comparison of maps 5/6/17 vs 5/9/17 shows recent advances in
northwest Mosul (Ninewa Media)
The Iraqi forces (ISF) moved further into northwest Mosul. On
May 9, the Tammuz
30 neighborhood was freed, while the Harmat 2 and 3, and July
17 areas were under attack. On May 10, Harmat
3 and Maamil
were liberated, and Islah al-Zirahi and Hawi Kanisa
were assaulted. General Mahdi Abbas Abdallah of the Rapid Reaction Division said
that Islamic State fighters were attempting to flee the city. On the other
hand, the Army Chief of Staff General Othman al-Ghanami predicted that the
Mosul campaign would be over before the start of Ramadan. Starting in March the
battle reached a turning point. While the Golden Division was pushing through
the center of West Mosul, the Interior Ministry’s forces were stuck in the Old
City with no real movement. That forced a change in strategy with the army’s 9th
Division backed by police units entering the northern section of the city. That
was supposed to happen much earlier, but the Iraqis still have problems
coordinating all their forces due to the multiple commands they operate under. The
Islamic State had no real defenses in the north allowing the new line of attack
to quickly advance. Now the north is largely freed and that front has connected
with the Golden Division that has taken the center. Together they are now
moving towards the Tigris River to take the last section of West Mosul in the
east. Mosul has been the most intense urban warfare the government forces have
faced, and it will be their largest victory as well when it’s all over.
The new offensive is increasing the number of people flowing
out of Mosul. Over 24,000
people arrived at Hamam al-Alil south of the city from May 5-8. The United
Nations opened
a new displacement called Hasansham U2. The first busload of people arrived there
on May 8. This will supplement the Hamam al-Alil 2 camp that was opened in
April and is already almost full. Because most of the camps south of Mosul are
at capacity or overflowing many people are now moving
to east Mosul after being checked in at Hamam al-Alil. The first large group of
people, approximately 1,800, were also taken back to west Mosul. Since the
battle in Mosul has picked back up in May the number of people fleeing the city
has increased, and reversed April’s trend of more people leaving camps then
arriving. The trend often fluctuates back and forth depending upon the
intensity of the fighting inside the city.
SOURCES
Abdullah, Dalshad, “Suicide Bombings are ISIS’ Last Choice
in Mosul,” Asharq Al-Awast, 5/10/17
Aboulenein, Ahmed,
“Iraqi forces chip away at last Islamic State-held districts in Mosul,”
Reuters, 5/9/17
Abulezz, Mostafa
with Karim, Ammar, “Iraq forces advance in west Mosul,” Agence France Presse,
5/9/17
Baghdad Post, “Counter Terrorism Forces push deep into
Mosul’s right bank,” 5/10/17
- "Federal Police liberate Harmat Thaneya
neighborhood in Mosul," 5/10/17
- “ISIS breathing its last as Iraqi forces advance in
Mosul’s right bank,” 5/10/17
Coles, Isabel,
“Families pour out of Mosul as Iraqi troops push into last militant-held
areas,” Reuters, 5/10/17
Al Maalomah, "Federal Police storm Harmat 2
and control the apartments," 5/9/17
- “Ghanami all of
Mosul is likely to be liberated before Ramadan,” 5/10/17
Mostafa, Mohamed, “Iraqi forces take over western Mosul’s 30
Tamuz district,” Iraqi News, 5/9/17
- “UPDATED: Iraqi forces kill IS area commander, retake
another area in western Mosul,” Iraqi News, 5/10/17
New Sabah, “Five neighborhoods separate the joint forces
from announcing the liberation of all of West Mosul,” 5/10/17
Rudaw, “Fragile
security and lack of basic services hinder return of Mosul refugees,” 5/10/17
- "Iraqi army captures more neighborhoods
in northwest Mosul, clashes ongoing," 5/10/17
- “Is Iraq prepared for the day after ISIS in Mosul?”
5/10/17
Shafaaq News, “The bodies of Daash members covering the
streets in Mosul,” 5/9/17
- “Iraqi forces kill 15 Daesh and destroy five booby-trapped
vehicles and control area of Mosul,” 5/9/17
- "URGENT Iraqi forces free 30 July and
attacking two new areas in Mosul," 5/9/17
UN High Commissioner
for Refugees, “Iraq Situation: UNHCR Flash Update – 9 May 2017,” 5/9/17
- “UNHCR opens new
Hasansham U2 camp for West Mosul displace,” 5/9/17
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,
“Iraq: Mosul Humanitarian Response Situation Report No. 32 (1 May to 7 May
2017,” 5/9/17
- “Mosul Humanitarian Crisis, 9 May 2017,” 5/9/17
Wedeman, Ben, “Mosul
victory in sight – at a cost,” CNN, 5/9/17
Xinhua, “Feature: Iraqis recount pain and ordeal under
IS-ruled Mosul,” 5/9/17
- “Iraqi forces recapture new areas in western Mosul,”
5/10/17
2 comments:
One question I always had while looking at these maps is regarding the northeastern area of West Mosul. and why it's the only one with a picture in it (a building and some palm trees). Well, more of a curiosity than a question really, but why does it stand apart? Is it special in any way?
Yes noticed that too. Not sure because don't now what's in that part of the city.
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