Iraqi forces chiefs ready new tactics to fight ISIL
Street-by-street push against terrorists after advance into west Mosul was stalled
MOSUL // Iraqi forces are to deploy different tactics in another push against ISIL in Mosul after advances slowed recently in the campaign to drive the extremists out of their last stronghold in the country.
Elite Counter- Terrorism Service ( CTS) forces made some advances against the militants in some areas of western Mosul, said a defence spokesman.
Families, meanwhile, streamed out of the northern Iraqi city in a daily exodus of thousands headed for cold, crowded camps or to stay with relatives.
Now in its sixth month, the US-backed offensive has recaptured most of the city.
The entire eastern side and around half of the west is under Iraqi control.
But advances have stuttered in the past two weeks as fighting entered the narrow streets of the old city and the militants put up fierce resistance using car bombs, snipers and mortar fire against forces and residents.
“In the next few days, we will surprise Daesh terrorists by targeting and eliminating them using new plans” being discussed by the joint operations command, said Iraqi defence ministry spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasool.
He did not elaborate, but an officer of the federal police, which is fighting the extremists in the old city, along with the interior ministry’s elite rapid response forces, said the latest tactics would include deploying additional sniper units against ISIL sharpshooters. Brig Gen Rasool said CTS forces had advanced in tough, building-to-building battles to recapture areas outside the old city, including Al Yabsat.
ISIL fighters had been positioning car bombs and forcing residents to move furniture into the streets that the militants were booby-trapping to slow Iraqi advances, he said.
ISIL fighters stationed themselves in homes belonging to Mosul residents to fire at Iraqi troops, often drawing air or artillery strikes that have killed civilians. They have also launched counter- attacks, sometimes pinning down Iraqi forces on the southern edges of the old city.
Cloud cover and rain in recent weeks have prevented effective air support, military officials said. As the battle continues, more civilians are being killed or displaced.
Local officials and residents said on Thursday that dozens of people were buried in collapsed buildings after an air raid against ISIL triggered explosives caches last week.
Outside the city yesterday, hundreds of displaced people poured out of Mosul, walking through the mud with suitcases and bags. One man said that ISIL snipers had shot at those fleeing, and some had been killed in explosions.
The situation inside the city is worsening, with no drinking water or electricity and no food coming in, residents said.