The pace of operations in Mosul slowed down a few weeks back, when the Iraqi Federal Police came up to the dense streets of the Old Town, and a high profile incident occurred where a large group of civilians were killed in an air strike (apparently human shields set up for the propaganda effect).
Well, it looks like the slowdown is now officially over. The Iraqi security forces re-set with new tactics, new weapons (drone jammers) and reinforcements. The Iraqi 9th Division entered the City Gate from the North West, opening a new front against ISIS.
Yesterday (19 April), Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi came to Western Mosul, and “confirmed the necessity of speeding up the liberation of the city from ISIS militants as they continue to use civilians as human shields.” Such orders delivered in person like that, strike me as significant. I believe they have launched the final phase (except perhaps for a small core of the Old Town, which might be handled a bit differently, after the greater city is cleared).
A few high value targets in the ISIS command structure in Mosul were reported killed today, including their Intelligence chief, and the first aide to the boss (Abu Bakr al Baghdadi). It seems that the Iraqi Security Forces are advancing again with more intense pressure across a wide front.
The ISIS garrison can’t take much more of this. Weeks. Maybe a section of the Old Town might hold out a few weeks longer.
When Mosul is cleared, Tal Afar will require fewer assets, and fires should be ready to start shifting to Raqqa City.
Then Iraq will be mostly chasing small ISIS groups trying to hide in small Sunni towns in the desert of al Anbar, or along the Euphrates River “rat line” into Syria. More like guerilla war or traditional anti-terrorist than big fixed battles.
LOL.
No apocalyptic battle at Dabiq.
Thanks for info and background.
Hussein Obama, America's FIRST Muslim President, must be so proud of his ISIS fighters. But at the same time, he must be so sad that his Muslim brothers are being slaughtered under President Trump.
If only Hillary had been elected, then the Muslim conquest of the west could have continued virtually unchecked.
