Posted on 07/03/2017 9:32:50 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Islamic State fighters were battling to hold on to the last few streets under their control in the Old City of Mosul on Monday, making a doomed last stand in their former Iraqi stronghold.
In fierce fighting, Iraqi army units forced the insurgents back into a shrinking rectangle no more than 300 by 500 meters beside the Tigris river, according to a map published by the military media office.
Smoke covered parts of the Old City, which were rocked by air strikes and artillery salvos through the morning.
The number of Islamic State (IS) militants fighting in Mosul has dwindled from thousands at the start of the government offensive more than eight months ago to a mere couple of hundred now, according to the Iraqi military.
Iraqi forces say they expect to reach the Tigris and regain full control over the city by the end of this week. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is expected to visit Mosul to formally declare victory, and a week of nationwide celebrations is planned.
Mosul is by far the largest city captured by Islamic State. It was here, nearly three years ago to the day, that it declared the founding of its "caliphate" over parts of Iraq and Syria.
With Mosul gone, its territory in Iraq will be limited to areas west and south of the city where some tens of thousands of civilians live.
"Victory is very near, only 300 meters separate the security forces from the Tigris," military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Rasool told state TV.
Abadi declared the end of Islamic State's "state of falsehood" on Thursday, after the security forces took Mosul's medieval Grand al-Nuri mosque.
It was from here that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made his first and only video appearance, proclaiming himself "caliph"
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Kill them all.
Kill them everywhere.
Nuke em from orbit, it’s the only way to be sure.
Get the victory, worry about celebrations later.
What’s so great about Mosul. It’s been Mosul this and Mosul that for years and years. Level the place and be done with it.
McCain, Graham and Rubio should be run out of office for arming jihadists.
This would be a victory for Iran, not Iraq. They’re so entrenched there, now, thanks to the previous administration.
I assume they are not taking prisoners.
Kill them all.
“Kill them all”
Including the bald-headed white guy.
I would bet that anyone with an important ISIS position ran out long ago after giving a motivational speech about fighting to the last bullet.
I remember reading in the diaries of Joseph Goebbels about his anger at supposedly staunch Nazi city mayors running out the back door in the same manner.
I say they appear to be in for a rum go
Saw a video the other night where the terrorists had shaved off their beards so they can escape.
Every few decades a moslem unknown declares himself a Caliph and proceeds to make war on everyone he considers “not moslem enough”. In the 11th Century it was Yusef Ben Texum who rolled out of the Sudan and conquered moslem cities clear into Spain.
In the late 1800s it was the Mahdi who again rolled out of the Sudan, captured Khartoum and then died.
Now Baghdadi-o.
Some new ones are in the wings waiting for their chance.
Good. LOL.
INTEL YES
PRISONERS NO
Didn’t Will Smith teach them anything?
Brings to mind Ruggle’s Battery attack on the Hornet’s Nest.
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