Despite civilian toll, Iraq pummels ISIS from air
MOSUL, Iraq — Iraqi forces say their recent territorial gains against the Islamic State group in Mosul’s Old City have largely been propelled by airstrikes, despite a spike in allegations of civilian casualties and warnings from human rights groups of the dangers of using large munitions in the dense, highlypopulated area.
As strikes pummeled the Old City on Sunday, hundreds of civilians fled. Many were badly injured and had to be carried out over mounds of rubble by family members. Deeper inside the district, narrow alleyways were littered with bodies.
Special forces Lt. Col. Muhanad al-Timimi said over the past three days his forces have carried out about 20 airstrikes a day on Islamic State-held territory measuring less than a square mile.
“It’s because we have a lot of enemy forces here,” he said, conceding the number of munitions used was relatively high.
Throughout the fight against Islamic State, or ISIS, the U.S.-led coalition has largely relied on airstrikes to enable Iraqi ground forces to advance. But in previous battles, civilians were evacuated from front lines. In Mosul, the Iraqi government told the city’s estimated 1 million people to stay put to avoid massive displacement.
Iraqi forces have repeatedly requested airstrikes in Mosul, often to kill teams of just two or three Islamic State fighters armed with lightweapons.
ManhalMunirwas sheltering in the basement of hishomewith his extended family when Islamic State fighters took a position on his roof. They were targeted by an airstrike Sunday morning. collapsed.
“I just pulled my youngest daughter out with me,” Munir said at a nearby medic station, the toddler on his lap. “My motherwas stuck between two large blocks of cement. We tried to free her,” he said, still coveredindust and his eyes red with grief. “After two hours she died.”
In the weeks leading up to the operation to retake the Old City, the United Nations and human rights groups warned the Iraqi government against the use of explosive weapons with wide effects in the Old City area, where houses are tightly packed andthe civilian population is dense.
The coalition did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press on what munitions it is using. “TheCoalition always seeks to use weapons that are proportional to the target to minimize collateral damage,” theU.S-led coalition said in awritten statement.
“Nearly all munitions released have been precision guided to ensure we achieve the desiredeffects,” the statement continued. The house “The avoidance of casualties is our priority.”
In a report Friday, the nonprofit group Airwars said it estimated that “between 900 and 1,200 civilians were likely killed by Coalition air and artillery strikes over the course of the eight month (Mosul) campaign.” The group said the territorial gains in Mosulcomeat a “terrible cost.”
The United Nations estimates that tens of thousands of civilians are still trapped inside the Old City.
Iraqi forces launched the operation to retake the Old City in mid-June after eight months of grueling battles across Mosul’s eastern half and around the city’s western edge.
Iraq’s Prime Minister declared an end to Islamic State’s so-called caliphate in late June and pledged victory was “near” after Iraqi forces retook the landmark al-Nuri Mosque in the Old City.
Iraq’s federal police declared a partial victory Sunday, announcing they had completed “the liberation of our sector,” according to spokesman Bassam Khadim. civilian highest