Comparison of West Ninewa maps from 5/6/17 vs 5/14/17 shows
the quick advance the Iraqi forces have made since they attacked the northwest
sector (Ninewa Media Cell)
The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) are closing the noose on the
last areas of west Mosul held by the Islamic State. The Iqtisadin
neighborhood was freed, Ureibi
was attacked, and there was on going fighting in Bab al-Tob,
Farouq, Bab al-Jadid, Tamuz 17, and Zinjali. A
general from the Golden Division said that the insurgents were spent and
exhausted, while the Federal Police commander General Shakir Jawadat estimated
that the entire city would be freed by the end of May or the start of June at
the latest. That sounded like a more realistic timeframe than the army chief of
staff who talked about the end of the campaign in a few days to two weeks at
most. Iraqi statements are always full of propaganda, so they need to be taken
with a big grain of salt. What is undisputed is that the new attack upon
northwest Mosul has gained huge results and the area under IS control is
quickly shrinking.
The renewed fighting in Mosul is forcing out thousands of
people. 3,000 fled
the Rifai, Najar, and Ureibi neighborhoods, and another 4,000 left Tamuz 17. The
security forces sent the displaced (IDPs) to Hamam al-Alil for screening and
registration. The Islamic State was accused
of shooting 64 people trying to escape their control over the last few days. On
the other hand, the Displacement Ministry reported
4,784 people left camps in Qayara and Hamam al-Alil and returned to fifteen
neighborhoods in Mosul. There is a constant flow of people in and out of Mosul.
Many IDPs are now leaving the city, checking in at Hamam al-Alil, and then
moving to east Mosul so that they can be close to their homes when the fighting
dies down. That has been complicated because of flooding, which has shut down
the bridges across the Tigris River. People are taking boats, but it is a much
slower and costly process than the buses that were available before.
The Hashd are in the third day of their offensive in
western Ninewa. Two Yazidi villages were under attack, while a third was freed.
The Hashd upped the number of towns the liberated the day before from 6 to 10.
The first objective of the new operation is to seize Qayrawan, which is now
surrounded on three sides. After that they will move on Baaj, which is a
suspected IS base, and then move towards the Syrian border.
SOURCES
Associated Press,
“Iraq: New push to drive IS form 4 neighborhoods in Mosul,” 5/14/17
Baghdad Post, “5,000
civilians back to liberated areas in Mosul,” 5/14/17
Al Jazeera, “Iraqi forces push toward ISIL’s ‘last pocket’
in Mosul,” 5/14/17
Al Mada, “The joint
forces are preparing to break into the last stronghold in Mosul after a bold
detour,” 5/14/17
Mostafa, Mohamed, “Iraqi troops take over IS outfit
tailoring factory in western Mosul,” Iraqi News, 5/14/17
- "Monitor: Islamic State kill 64 civilians, including
children, fleeing western Mosul," Iraqi News, 5/14/17
- “(UPDATED) Iraqi troops retake first district to have
fallen to IS in Mosul,” Iraqi News, 5/14/17
Mostafa, Nehal, “Iraqi troops liberate strategic district,
invade others in western Mosul,” Iraqi News, 5/14/17
- “PMUs liberate one village, besiege another in western
Mosul,” Iraqi News, 5/14/17
- "Thousands of civilians displaced as
Iraqi troops resume advance in western Mosul," Iraqi News, 5/14/17
New Saba, “The joint
forces are besieging the remaining 10% of the right bank of Mosul,” 5/14/17
Reuters, “Iraqi
forces attack Islamic State in Mosul as battle approaches endgame,” 5/14/17
Rudaw, “Hashd
al-Shaabi clash surround ISIS-held Qairawan from three sides,” 5/14/17
Shafaaq News, “Iraqi forces stormed four neighborhoods in
the city of Mosul … at the same time,” 5/14/17
Al Sumaria, “Resident of the Islah al-Zirahi district in
Mosul tell Al Sumaria their suffering under Daesh,” 5/14/17
Xinhua, "Iraqi forces paramilitary units push
to border areas with Syria," 5/14/17
- “Iraqi forces push into 4 IS-held neighborhoods in western
Mosul,” 5/14/17
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