Mosul Campaign Day 232 Jun 5 2017

Iraqi armored car passing a truck destroying by Islamic State west Mosul (Reuters)

Iraqi T-72 tank moves across rubble in west Mosul (Reuters)

There was fighting in three areas of west Mosul. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were still trying to capture the Zinjali neighborhood. The ISF has largely been frustrated in Shifa and the Old City and tried to push into the two areas from different directions. The Iraqi command claimed that the final assault on Mosul would be over quickly, while lower ranking officers and the Americans warned the opposite that it would be the toughest part of the fight. The latter are proving to be more accurate.

Mosul Campaign Day 231 Jun 4 2017

The Hashd captured Baaj (center in white) in west Mosul where many IS elements were believed to have fled when Mosul was attacked. Yellow to the north is Peshmerga held section of Sinjar district. Green is Hashd held. Red is Syria. (Al Forat News)

There was fighting across the front in Mosul. The Federal Police gave conflicting numbers again about its progress in Zinjali. One report said they held 65%. Federal Police commander General Raed Shakir Jawadat had it at 60%. Yesterday they claimed it was at 75-85%. The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were still attempting to capture the medical center in Shifa. It was taken a few days ago, but the Islamic State forced the Iraqi forces out. The insurgents also launched a large assault upon the Bab al-Bob, Bab al-Jadid and Bab Lakash entrances to the Old City in the early morning, but were turned back. The ISF has to make announcements of success every day. It is part of the government’s propaganda campaign. The problem is that it’s not a coordinated effort and there is plenty of exaggeration and sometimes make believe going on. That’s the reason why there are always conflicting statements and claims about advances.

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Was featured in SF State Magazine my alma mater on Alumni from the school for my Iraq work. I was mentioned in "ISIS executes 5 civilians in western Mosul for fleeing" in Rudaw.

Mosul Campaign Day 230 Jun 3 2017

Iraqi propaganda was again obfuscating the situation in west Mosul. First, each day the government releases a map of west Mosul showing the disposition of the opposing forces. Yesterday the Saha 1 neighborhood was freed. On the map, it had been colored in liberated for several days beforehand. Second, the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) continued to give different figures on its progress in Zinjali. On June 2 two sources claimed 40% or 60% of the area was taken from the insurgents. June 3 the Federal Police said that 40-50% was cleared beforehand, and an additional 25% was liberated. Another source claimed that 85% of Zinjali was under government control. The commander of the Federal Police General Read Shakir Jawadat told the press that his forces were 800 meters into the neighborhood. Whatever the real percentage is reinforcements arrived to help with the fighting. The conflicting statements have been a trademark of official releases by the ISF. They must report progress every day to support the propaganda effort, and there is little coordination leading to different stories at any given time.

Mosul Campaign Day 229 Jun 2 2017

The Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) captured their first neighborhood in their new operation in Mosul. Saha 1 was taken by the Golden Division. The ISF was also said to be in control of 40% to 60% of Zinjali depending upon the source, and there was still fighting in Shifa. On May 28 the second day of the new offensive the ISF claimed they had 60% of Zinjali. That was likely an exaggeration. The Iraqis originally said they were going to liberate all three areas yesterday, but the fighting has been tough and official predictions are always over optimistic.

Mosul Campaign Day 228 Jun 1 2017

There were more problems with the optimistic timeline laid out by the Iraqi forces on their planned progress in the Mosul battle. June 1 was when the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) were supposed to have feed Zinjali, Shifa and Saha, which are the neighborhoods north of the Old City district along the Tigris River. There was fighting in all three of those areas, but no reported advances. The ISF are always saying they are trying to protect civilians, but the reality of battle is something else. Residents in Old Mosul said there were streets and yards full of dead bodies from artillery and air strikes. The Islamic State continued to target people attempting to flee as well. Twelve people were reportedly killed and 23 wounded by IS fire trying to escape, and the group executed another 8. Residents of the city have suffered huge casualties during the fighting from all sides. The government’s decision to tell people to stay in the city proved a major mistake, and IS using human shields and targeting civilians all played a role.

Mosul Campaign Day 227 May 31 2017

Zinjali on the left is where the biggest but still limited advance has been made so far in the final attack upon Mosul. In the top right there was penetration into Saha as well. (Ninewa Media Cell)

The final fight for Mosul continued to be a difficult one. Reuters reported that the Islamic State closed off the streets around the Grand Mosque in the Old City district. The insurgents have also been moving people out of Zinjali and into the Old City to try to prevent them from escaping. There were no advances reported. When the latest operation started Iraqi officials and the security forces were overly optimistic as usual. Zinjali, Shifa and Saha were predicted to fall by June 1, and the whole city in just a matter of days. With only limited results in four days it is hard to believe that either of those deadlines are going to be met.