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Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Battle for Mosul: The story so far | Battle for Mosul: The story so far |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A long-awaited military offensive to reclaim the northern Iraqi city Mosul from so-called Islamic State (IS) is under way, forcing thousands of Iraqis to flee their homes. | |
| About 30,000 Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen, assisted by US-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, launched the assault on Monday, more than two years after jihadists overran the city before seizing control of much of northern and western Iraq. | About 30,000 Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia militiamen, assisted by US-led coalition warplanes and military advisers, launched the assault on Monday, more than two years after jihadists overran the city before seizing control of much of northern and western Iraq. |
| The operation is expected to take weeks, if not months, depending on how much resistance they face from the 3,000 to 5,000 militants believed to be inside Mosul. However, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says it is progressing faster than planned. | |
| There are concerns about the fate of the estimated 1.5 million civilians living in the city, with up to 200,000 possibly being displaced in the next few weeks. Those inside report that they are running out of basic supplies. | |
| The US has also said it is known that civilians there are being used as human shields. | The US has also said it is known that civilians there are being used as human shields. |
| Between 17 and 19 October, Iraqi army units moved towards Mosul from Qayyarah airbase, in the south, and the town of Kuwayr, in the south-east, and took back several villages. The Peshmerga also captured a string of villages near Khazer, to the east. | |
| Then on Thursday, Kurdish and Iraqi government forces intensified their offensive. Kurdish fighters launched a large-scale operation east and north of the city, while Iraq's elite counter-terrrorism forces started fighting for the first time. | |
| Troops have been steadily advancing along Highway 2, a key road to the east of Mosul, according to US geopolitical intelligence company Stratfor. | Troops have been steadily advancing along Highway 2, a key road to the east of Mosul, according to US geopolitical intelligence company Stratfor. |
| They moved west almost 23km (14 miles) to engage entrenched IS militants in the town of Bartella, its analysis suggests. | They moved west almost 23km (14 miles) to engage entrenched IS militants in the town of Bartella, its analysis suggests. |
| Satellite images taken on Tuesday and released by Stratfor on Wednesday, give an idea of what lies ahead for the advancing forces. | Satellite images taken on Tuesday and released by Stratfor on Wednesday, give an idea of what lies ahead for the advancing forces. |
| Highway 2, east of Mosul | Highway 2, east of Mosul |
| Stratfor says the images show militants have erected temporary barriers along Highway 2, which connects Mosul with the Kurdish city of Irbil, in an effort to prevent vehicles passing. | Stratfor says the images show militants have erected temporary barriers along Highway 2, which connects Mosul with the Kurdish city of Irbil, in an effort to prevent vehicles passing. |
| Some of the barriers appear to be constructed from tyres. In certain locations, the tyres have been set on fire to reduce visibility and impede air operations. | Some of the barriers appear to be constructed from tyres. In certain locations, the tyres have been set on fire to reduce visibility and impede air operations. |
| Bartella, east of Mosul | Bartella, east of Mosul |
| The images also show how air and artillery strikes have targeted buildings and IS defensive installations around the town of Bartella, which sits on Highway 2, in preparation for the ground offensive, Stratfor says. | The images also show how air and artillery strikes have targeted buildings and IS defensive installations around the town of Bartella, which sits on Highway 2, in preparation for the ground offensive, Stratfor says. |
| Area close to Qaraqosh, south-east of Mosul | Area close to Qaraqosh, south-east of Mosul |
| According to Stratfor, IS lines are being softened up in preparation for another thrust by Iraqi forces near Qaraqosh, which is also known as Baghdida or Hamdaniya. | According to Stratfor, IS lines are being softened up in preparation for another thrust by Iraqi forces near Qaraqosh, which is also known as Baghdida or Hamdaniya. |
| Defensive positions used by the jihadists, such raised banks of earth and trenches, have been targeted to weaken the resolve of the fighters, Stratfor says. | Defensive positions used by the jihadists, such raised banks of earth and trenches, have been targeted to weaken the resolve of the fighters, Stratfor says. |
| Qaraqosh, south-east of Mosul | Qaraqosh, south-east of Mosul |
| The satellite imagery also shows damage inside Qaraqosh, Stratfor says. | The satellite imagery also shows damage inside Qaraqosh, Stratfor says. |