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| Iraqi police forces moving on Mosul airport (Reuters) |
On February 23 the Iraqi forces (ISF) attacked Mosul airport
and the Ghazlani base next door. First the Federal Police and Rapid Reaction
Division set off from Abu Saif and took the town of Yarmouk,
and then attacked Mosul airport, finding little resistance.
Tanks from the army’s 9th Division supported them. On a separate
axis, the Golden Division joined by the Al-Abbas Division of the Hashd took the
town of Tal
Rayan outside of Mosul that the Islamic State had been using as a sniper
and mortar base, and then moved onto the Ghazlani
base attacking it from two directions. ISF officers and several reporters
declared the airport free,
but the Joint Operations Command announced only 50% was under control. The
Operations Command also added that 85% of Ghazlani was in government
hands.
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| (BBC) |
U.S. led Coalition advisers were
seen supporting the ISF during the day. One was reportedly wounded
by the Mosul airport, but no nationality was given. The U.S. general in charge
of the Central Command General Joseph Votel has told
the press that there are 450 U.S. Special Forces taking part in the new Mosul
campaign. These are forward deployed for the first time under President Trump’s
new anti-IS policy.
For the first time the ISF entered west Mosul itself. Maamun,
Kherba
and Wadi
Hajar were all attacked by the Golden and 16th Divisions with
the first two being freed. The Islamic State was said to have put up a tough
fight for these areas. Chechens, some of the group’s best fighters were
reportedly involved.
The Iraqi forces are not only moving on a broad southern
front, but are also in the west and going to add a northern one as well. In the
west, units from the 9th, 15th and 16th
Divisions along with the Al-Abbas Division are present. Elements of those three
army divisions are supposed
to move on the northwest sometime soon. This will put added pressure upon the
Islamic State having to fight on multiple fronts. The ISF originally attempted
to do this in its attack on west Mosul but poor coordination and novice units
undermined the effort.
The flow of the displaced has shifted back to more people
leaving rather than returning in Ninewa. According
to the International Organization for Migration the number of people
registering with the government and aid agencies went from 159,006 on January
26 to 161,730 on February 23. At the start of February more people were leaving
camps and going back to Mosul and the surrounding towns. The reversal was due
to a number of reasons. First, the new campaign has led to people leaving
southern Mosul. Second, the constant IS attacks on east Mosul has driven
civilians out. Third, stories of shortages and the lack of services and jobs have
also made some people to reconsider going back. The number of displaced has
always ebbed and flowed and there will likely be a decided increase as more of
west Mosul is entered, followed by a decrease as more areas are freed and
people start returning.
SOURCES
Abdul-Zahra, Qassim and Salaheddin, Sinan, “US-backed Iraqi
forces enter Mosul airport, military base,” Associated Press, 2/23/17
Adel,
Loaa, "Elite militia leader killed in armed clashes with IS near
Mosul," Iraqi News, 2/23/17
AIN,
"Video..of the strongest confrontation with the popular crowd west of Tal
Afar," 2/23/17
Airwars,
"February 23rd 2017: New Mosul, Mosul, Nineveh province, Iraq"
BBC, “Mosul offensive: Iraqi forces recapture airport in bid
to retake city,” 2/23/17
Bulos, Nabih, Abdul Illah, Haidar, “U.S.-backed Iraqi forces
recapture Mosul airport and military base,” Los Angeles Times, 2/23/17
CBS News, “Fierce clashes as U.S.-backed forces battle ISIS
for airport,” 2/23/17
Chappell, Bill, “Fight For Mosul Moves Westward And Centers
On City’s Airport,” NPR, 2/23/17
Coles, Isabel and Kalin, Stephen, “Iraqi forces storm Mosul
airport, military base,” Reuters, 2/23/17
Gordon, Michael, “Iraqi Forces Take Most of Mosul Airport in
Push Against ISIS,” New York Times, 2/23/17
International Organization for Migration, “Displacement
Tracking Matrix Emergency Tracking Factsheet #17 – Mosul Operations From 17
October to 23 February,” 2/23/17
Iraq Oil Report, “Inside Mosul: Feb. 23, 2017,” 2/23/17
Al Jazeera, “Iraqi forces take control of Mosul Airport,”
2/23/17
Neuhof, Florian, “Iraqi special forces capture Mosul airport
from ISIL,” The National, 2/23/17
New
Sabah, "The joint forces stormed Ghazlani camp south Mosul after
controlling strategic areas," 2/22/17
Rudaw, “LIVE: Iraqi forces control more than half of Mosul
airport,” 2/23/17
Shafaaq
News, "Urgent..wounding a soldier from the international coalition during
the battle of Mosul airport," 2/23/17
Smith, Alexander, “Iraqi Forces Recapture ISIS-Held Mosul
Airport Under Fire: State TV,” NBC News, 2/23/17
World Bulletin, “Iraqi security forces storm ISIL-held Mosul
airport,” 2/23/17
Xinhua, “Iraqi forces free Mosul airport from IS militants,”
2/23/17
- “Iraqi forces launch operation to retake Mosul airport,
military base,” 2/23/17
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