Aftermath of a suicide bulldozer bomb in the Old City of
Mosul (Daily Mail)
The Iraqi forces (ISF) renewed their
offensive in the Old City in Mosul on March 17. The Federal Police and Rapid
Reaction Division were still aiming for the Ground Mosque where Islamic State
leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the caliphate in 2014. The police were
able to take
several main streets and markets during the day. That symbolizes who much the
campaign has slowed down. The dense layout of the Old City along with tough
defenses by the insurgents has slowed things down considerably, mixed in with
poor weather that has limited air support.
Reuters
talked with people who fled west Mosul. They explained how IS fighters were
constantly on the move, withdrawing and re-infiltrating along the frontlines. They also discussed the heavy civilian casualties that have come from not only
IS but the Iraqi and Coalition forces. There were still massive shortages as
well of food and supplies. These conditions are the major reason why so many
have fled the city.
The United Nations warned that
the displacement (IDPs) crisis is reaching the breaking point. The U.N.’s
humanitarian representative to Iraq Lise Grande said that if the number of
people coming out of west Mosul continued aid agencies would be overwhelmed.
The Iraqi ground forces commander General Riyad Jalal Tawfiq issued a statement
that the ISF are preparing a process to allow people from Mosul to go to
Baghdad. The official figures
for IDPs went from 224,286 on March 12 to 254,880 on March 16, a 30,594
increase. That only counts people who have registered. The Iraqi government claims
there are several thousand more.
SOURCES
Agence France Presse, “Iraq forces seize ground in Mosul Old
City,” 3/17/17
Burrows, Thomas, “The devastating aftermath of a suicide
BULLDOZER packed full of explosives that ripped apart an Iraqi forces convoy in
Mosul,” Daily Mail, 3/17/17
Davison, John, “Fear, hunger and destruction in Mosul Old
City as IS under pressure,” Reuters, 3/17/17
Davison,
John and Boumzar, Abdelaziz, "Fleeing IS, Mosul's civilians cart out the
living and the dead," Reuters, 3/17/17
- “Iraqi forces edge into Mosul’s Old City, Nuri mosque in
sight,” Reuters, 3/17/17
International Organization for Migration, “Displacement
Tracking Matrix Emergency Tracking Factsheet #20 – Mosul Operations From 17
October To 16 March,” 3/16/17
Al Mada, “Mosul battle Daash adopted a scorched earth
policy,” 3/17/17
Mostafa, Mohamed, “UPDATED: police recapture some areas near
Mosul’s Old City,” Iraqi News, 3/17/17
New Sabah, “The joint forces approaching within 500 meters
of the Al-Hadba Minerat, “3/17/17
Rudaw, “Iraqi forces advance against ISIS car bombs in west
Mosul,” 3/17/17
- “UN warns of imminent possibility of being overwhelmed by
Mosul IDPs,” 3/17/17
Shafaaq News, “Iraqi forces regain several positions from
the grip of Daesh in Mosul,” 3/17/17
-
"Iraqi journalist injured while covering Mosul battle," 3/17/17
Al Sumaria, “Ground forces will determine the date and
controls on the people of Mosul to visit Baghdad,” 3/17/17
UN High Commissioner for Refugees, “Iraq Situation: UNHCR
Flash Update – 17 March 2017,” 3/17/17
UN News Service, “Relief operations in western Mosul
reaching ‘breaking point’ as civilians flee hunger, fighting,” 3/16/17
Wedeman, Ben, “What is left of Mosul: ‘We don't’ belong here
anymore,’” CNN, 3/17/17
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