Saturday, January 7, 2017

Mosul Campaign Day 82, Jan 6, 2017


The Iraqi forces (ISF) shifted their focus to northeast Mosul on January 6. The 16th Division seized Mazare neighborhood, while the Golden Division took neighboring Muthanna. That effort began with a surprise night attack into Muthanna that was quickly surrounded. Army brigades also moved into the Hadbaa housing district, which is farther north.

In the southeast the Federal Police finally took the Salam Hospital in Wahda. Next to it the Jund al-Khalifah headquarters of the Islamic State was also seized. The ISF had been targeting the facility since the start of December. Hopefully this meant that the Wahda district in general was cleared of IS elements as well.

Yesterday a Hashd spokesman announced the 6th stage of its operations in the Tal Afar district. The next day the Hashd took three towns. The insurgents launched a large assault upon the Tal Afar Airport, but were repulsed. The Hashd claimed they secured the Tal Keif road a few days ago, but they continue to shell IS checkpoints along it.

Much has been made of the increased U.S. support for the Mosul campaign. The Americans are not the only nationality involved in the coalition. The French have soldiers deployed with the Iraqi forces as well, and it was reported that it moved some of its artillery from the base in Qayara south of Mosul closer to the front to assist with the new push within the city.

Finally, Agence France Presse was the latest to cover the growing number of people being displaced within Mosul. It talked with a man who escaped west Mosul, which is under control of IS to Intisar in the southeast. He found an abandoned home there and took up residence. The man went on to stay that he did not want to go to a displacement camp calling it a prison because people were not allowed out. Many houses have multiple families inside of them as people are sheltering throughout the city while the battle to liberate it drags on for the fourth month. This process will only continue as the ISF moves deeper into the Mosul.

SOURCES

Al Alam, “Iraqi Army, Popular Forces Advance more in ISIS-Held Mosul City,” 1/6/17
- "Iraqi Forces Thwart ISIS Militants' Attack on Airport near Mosul City," 1/6/17

BBC, "Mosul battle: Iraqi troops 'take key district' from IS," 1/6/17

Buratha News, “Recent developments in the field during the process of liberating Mosul until 18:00 Friday 06 01 2017,” 1/6/17
- “Recent developments in the field during the process of liberating Mosul until 18:30 Friday 06 01 2017,” 1/6/17

Coles, Isabel and Hameed, Saif, “In renewed push, Iraqi forces enter Mosul from north for first time,” Reuters, 1/6/17

Decamme, Guillaume, “For Mosul displaced, shelter is often just down the road,” Agence France Presse, 1/6/17

Face Iraq, “Abdul Wahab al-Saadi: joint forces engaged in heavy fighting for freeing all of the east side of Mosul from Daesh,” 1/6/17
- “French troops deployed artillery guns to hit Daesh strongholds in the center of Mosul,” 1/6/17
- “Military source: forces took control of the road linking the city of Mosul and Tal Skeif,” 1/1/17
- “Security forces continue operations against Daesh terrorists within Ninewa,” 1/6/17

Al Forat, "Federal Police control Salam Hospital in Mosul," 1/6/17
- "Seventh Brigade freed Ahmed and Malah villages southeast of Mosul," 1/6/17

Al Maalomah, "Popular Crowd frees Al Beefij west of Mosul," 1/6/17
- “Security forces free apartments in Hadbaa area north Mosul,” 1/6/17

Al Mada, "Iraqi army frees Mazare district north Mosul," 1/6/17

Al Masalah, “Popular Crowd frees two villages southwest of Mosul,” 1/6/17

Reuters, “Iraqi forces advance against Islamic State in Mosul night raid: spokesman,” 1/6/17

Rudaw, “Iraqi forces cross the Khosr River in east Mosul,” 1/6/17



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