Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Mosul Campaign Day 78, Jan 2, 2016


The Iraqi forces (ISF) reclaimed two areas of east Mosul and freed a third. Karama and Intisar in east Mosul were declared liberated on January 1, but it appears that was premature. On January 2 the ISF said that the two neighborhoods had finally been cleared. Nassir was also freed, which had been fought over since November. The Golden Division was still trying to free the northern section of Karama. The 16th Division pushing from the north claimed that it had finally reached the city, but that was an exaggeration. Ninewa officials criticized the division for the third time for missing Islamic State positions and shelling civilian ones instead and causing casualties. On January 2 they shelled three northern neighborhoods of Mosul destroying two car bombs. In the south the army and police have still not moved, but they were shelling Mosul as well.

As usual the Islamic State was counterattacking inside and outside of Mosul. Mortars killed four civilians and wounding two others in two separate incidents, rockets fired on Tamim killed 18 and injured five more, a sniper killed a teenager in Mazra, and a car bomb in Karama left seven fatalities and five wounded. Three car bombs were also destroyed in Yarmja, and two in Karama. U.S. General Joseph Martin told the press that IS had limited resources in east Mosul, and he believed that those were running out. For example, the general said he was seeing fewer car bombs. Coalition air strikes have also been working to diminish the militants’ offensive capabilities with one destroying a suspected car bomb factory in east Mosul. IS attacked the Mosul-Baghdad road temporarily cutting it off. 5 car bombs were also destroyed in the Tal Afar district to the west of Mosul. The Hashd there are still in a holding position, as it appears that the ISF is in no rush to free the town.

SOURCES

Adel, Loaa, “Counter-Terrorism forces liberate northern Karama neighborhood,” Iraqi News, 1/2/17
- "Federal Police forces liberate Intisar neighborhood near Mosul," Iraqi News, 1/2/17

AIN, “Killed 245 Daash freeing new area in Mosul today,” 1/2/17

Al Alam, "68 ISIS Terrorists Killed in Iraqi Army's Military Operations in Nineveh Province," 1/2/17
- “Notorious ISIS Commander Killed by Iraqi Federal Police near Mosul,” 1/2/17
- “VIDEO: Iraqi Forces Rely on Drones as They Advance in Eastern Mosul,” 1/2/17

Buratha News, “Recent development in the field in the liberation process of Mosul until 15:15 Monday 02 01 2017,” 1/2/17

Coles, Isabel and al-Rubaie, Ali, "Islamic State attacks Iraqi police near Najaf, kills seven," 1/1/17

eKurd, "Iraqi Kurdistan News in brief - January 2, 2017," 1/2/17

Face Iraq, "Sources: the martyrdom and wounding of 23 people, including 10 security force members in missile attack by Daesh east Mosul," 1/2/17

Iraq Oil Report, “Inside Mosul: Jan. 2, 2017,” 1/2/17

Kalin, Stephen, “U.S. general sees Islamic State’s capability waning in east Mosul,” Reuters, 1/2/17

Al Mada, "The killing of 10 Daesh members repelling attack on left coast of Mosul," 1/2/17
- “Mosul operations resume freeing five neighborhoods with the assistance of the Federal Police and Rapid Intervention Forces,” 1/1/17

Al Masalah, "Free Nassir neighborhood in Mosul, killing dozens of terrorists," 1/2/17

Mostafa, Mohamed, "Iraqi forces consummate recapture of eastern Mosul district," Iraqi News, 1/2/17
- "Iraqi forces recapture more districts in eastern Mosul, kill 19 militants," Iraqi News, 1/1/17

Raheem, Kareem and Hassan, Ghazwan, "Islamic State kills 24 with Baghdad car bomb, briefly cuts road to Mosul," Reuters, 2/2/17

Xinhua, “Iraqi security forces extend grip on IS stronghold in Mosul,” 1/2/17


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