The Iraqi military is still pushing the narrative
that the Islamic State is a defeated force. The Defense Ministry released a
statement that the Iraqi forces (ISF) have inflicted heavy losses on IS and
drained its forces. Commanders continue to say that will mean west Mosul will
be easier than the east. This has been the government’s line since the ISF
reached Mosul. There are constant stories of IS fleeing the city to Syria,
Iraqi and foreign fighters clashing with each other, etc. It’s still impossible
to tell how the actual battle will go down.
The Hashd is pushing its own propaganda. A captain from the
forces told Rudaw
that his unit had been given the job of securing Mosul University. The Joint
Operations Command just said that only the ISF would be in the city so it’s yet
to be seen whether this report was true or not. In a similar vein spokesman
Ahmed al-Asadi said that the Hashd were preparing to assault west Mosul. They
have been making this claim with increasing frequency, but Prime Minister
Haider Abadi said from the start that they would not take part in the battle
inside the city. Former Ninewa Governor Atheel Nujafi’s Hashd al-Watani was
included in the northern front and did enter the city, but they have since been
told to leave because of an arrest warrant against Nujafi. Where there is no
question about the Hashd role is west of Mosul in the Tal Afar district. There
they are increasingly interested in Baaj. This is where IS leader Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi and other IS commanders have reportedly been staying for months
now, which means the Hashd are more and more interested in attacking the area
and seeing what is there.
The population of east Mosul is suffering constant attacks,
and now there are complaints of looting. During January 31 IS mortars, rockets,
drones, and mines killed 28 people, and wounded another 14. This has become the
regular daily news from the liberated side of the city. Iraq
Oil Report heard from people in several neighborhoods who said that people
have been robbing houses, shops, and public buildings. They have blamed this on
people in uniform. Since the ISF is the only force throughout the city this
must be members of the army, police or counter terrorism forces.
Finally, the Oil Ministry announced
that another burning well in Qayara was put out. The Islamic State was forced
out of the area in August 2016 and lit the oil fields on fire in the process.
So far workers from the North Oil Company and international firms have put out
18 wells. There are still 7 ablaze. This has been an environmental disaster for
the area as toxic fumes have been spreading through the area for six months
now.
SOURCES
AIN, “Video..Field commanders: freeing west Mosul will be
faster,” 1/31/17
Georgy, Michael, “With Islamic State gone, East Mosul
residents face uncertain future,” Reuters, 1/31/17
Iraq
Oil Report, "Inside Mosul: Jan. 31, 2017" 1/31/17
Al
Maalomah, "The death of a man and his son in landmine explosion planted by
Daesh east Mosul," 1/31/17
- “Popular crowd has special teams to meet Daesh in west
Mosul,” 1/31/17
Mostafa,
Mohamed, "IS attack foiled in eastern Mosul, IED kills 3 children in the
west," Iraqi News, 1/31/17
Otten, Cathy, “Trapped Mosul civilians in dire need of
relief,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees, 1/31/17
Rudaw, “Crews extinguish flames at one oil well in Qayyara,
7 still burning,” 1/31/17
- “Hashd al-Shaabi providing security after looting at Mosul
University,” 1/31/17
Shafaaq
News, "Wounding four civilians who were bombed by Daesh in the liberated
areas of Mosul," 1/31/17
Sotaliraq,
"Three children killed by a booby-trapped home west Mosul," 1/31/17
Al
Sumaria, "Killing six civilians bombed by Daesh on left bank of
Mosul," 1/31/17
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