NOWHERE TO RUN: Iraqi forces SURROUND Islamic State jihadis in Mosul after US airstrikes
ISLAMIC State jihadis have been left with nowhere to run after powerful airstrikes and a successful siege has left Iraqi forces on the brink of recapturing Mosul.
Iraqi forces have made good ground recently but the street to street fighting will be hard
The Iraqi government offensive against a reported 4,000 Isis fighters, is facing resistance from militants deploying car bombs, sniper fire and armed commercial drones throwing grenades and explosives.
Despite this troops have made rapid gains on the Western outskirts including both ends of one of the five bridges, which could be made passable by US equipment.
Haidar Matuli, a commander of the Federal Police, said: “The ISIS defence lines were very strong at the beginning.”
He added that ISIS have grouped together all of their fighters in the western Mosul to stop Iraq’s advance, including “many” of its foreign fighters, and non-Iraqi Arab citizens.
Iraqi veteran is a sniper in the war against ISIS
An officer with the elite interior ministry units said: “The provincial council and the government building are within the firing range of the rapid response forces.”
Iraq launched their second offensive against the jihadis last week, storming Mosul airport in an attempt to force the militants out of the country.
Our forces are fighting deep in the west, the enemy is broken
General Rasool has described the street fighting as "intense", but added: "Our forces are fighting deep in the west, the enemy is broken."
The country’s elite, US trained, Counter-Terrorism Forces have spearheaded the Mosul offensive on the left bank of the city, storming the Southern district.
The country’s elite, US trained, Counter-Terrorism Forces have spearheaded the Mosul offensive
General Stephen Townsend, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve, said: “Since August 2014 the US-led Coalition has conducted more than 10,000 air strikes against Isis targets in Iraq and trained and equipped more than 70,000 Iraqi forces to support Iraqi operations”.
They also teamed up with the Federal police to raid buildings in western Mosul to assassinate jihadis.
US led strikes have helped to diminish ISIS capabilities in Mosul
UN aid workers are extremely concerned about the health of the 750,000 citizens trapped in Mosul. It has been reported there is no food, no clean water, no gas for heating, no medicine and no health services.
It is claimed militants have burned down the market in the city and are setting fire to private houses in order to create a smoke screen to hide ISIS fighters from air attacks.