Iraqi forces push to clear last pockets of IS in Mosul
IRAQI forces fought to eliminate the last pockets of Islamic State resistance in Mosul yesterday after the premier visited the devastated city to congratulate troops on securing victory.
With the jihadists surrounded in a sliver of territory in Mosul’s Old City, attention was turning to the huge task of rebuilding the city and of helping civilians, with aid groups warning that Iraq’s humanitarian crisis was far from over.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited Mosul on Sunday and hailed Iraq’s “heroic fighting forces” after months of difficult battles that have left much of the city in ruins.
The Old City in particular has been devastated, with many buildings reduced to little more than concrete shells and rubble littering the streets.
Upon his arrival in the city, Abadi’s office said he was visiting “liberated” Mosul to congratulate troops on a “major victory”.
A senior commander said yesterday that Iraqi forces were engaged in “heavy” fighting with the remnants of jihadist forces, but that the battle was near its end. Lieutenant General Sami al-Aridhi of the elite Counter-Terrorism Service said the jihadists had been reduced to an area of the Old City of about 200 by 100 metres.
“They do not accept to surrender,” Aridhi said. But “operations are in their final stages,” and “it is likely that [the fighting] will end today”.
Aridhi said his forces had information that there were between 3,000 and 4,000 civilians in the area but that could not be independently confirmed.
The cost of victory has been enor- mous: much of Mosul in ruins, thousands dead and wounded and nearly half the city’s population forced from their homes.
The UN has said 920,000 people fled their homes during the Mosul operation, and while some have returned the vast majority remain displaced.
The UN refugee agency yesterday said it could be many months before civilians are able to return to their homes.
“Many have nothing to go back to due to extensive damage caused during the conflict, while key basic services such as water, electricity and other key infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, will need to be rebuilt or repaired,” it said.
Aid groups working in Iraq are calling for international support for rebuilding efforts and urged authorities not to press civilians to return.