Iraqi special forces join Mosul battle

U.S. HELP: They’re set to face fierce IS resistance

IRAQI special forces charged into the Mosul battle yesterday with a pre-dawn advance on a nearby town held by the Islamic State (IS) group, a key part of a multi-pronged assault on eastern approaches to the besieged city.

The addition of the elite troops, also known as counterterrorism forces, marked a significant intensification of the fight for Iraq’s second-largest city. As they advanced, attack helicopters fired on the militants and heavy gunfire echoed across the plains.

Major-General Maan al-Saadi said the elite troops advanced on the town of Bartella with the aid of United States-led coalition airstrikes and heavy artillery on the fourth day of a massive operation.

“God willing, we will take this town today (yesterday),” he said.

The militants fought back, unleashing at least four suicide car bombs against the advancing forces, one of which blew up after it was struck by tank fire.

The special forces are expected to lead the way into Mosul, where they will face fierce resistance in an urban landscape, where militants are preparing for a climactic battle.

The Kurdish forces, known as peshmerga, who are also taking part in the offensive, announced a “large-scale operation” to the north and northeast of Mosul yesterday.

Military operations also appeared to be underway in the town of Bashiqa, northeast of Mosul. Thick smoke could be seen billowing from the town yesterday.

A day earlier, Bashiqa was pounded by airstrikes and mortar fire from peshmerga positions.

Amer al-Jabbar, a 30-year-old soldier with the Iraqi special forces, said he was happy to be taking part in the attack and hoped to avenge two brothers killed while fighting for the Iraqi security forces.

“I had one brother who became a martyr in 2007 and another who became a martyr in 2014,” he said.

“I want to avenge them and I’m ready to die.”

An intense gun battle erupted as the convoy of some 1,000 special forces made its way toward Bartella. A road sign said the Mosul city centre was 27km away.

Iraq’s US-trained special forces are seen as far more capable than the mainstream security forces that crumbled as IS advanced in 2014.

They have played a central role in liberating several cities and towns over the past year, including Ramadi and Fallujah.

The special forces advanced in some 150 Humvees decked with Iraqi flags and Shia banners.

Ali Saad, a 26-year-old soldier, said the Kurdish forces had asked them to take down the banners, but they refused.

“They asked if we were militias. We said we’re not militias, we are Iraqi forces, and these are our beliefs.”

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will hold a meeting with Saudi Arabia soon to get information about the assault on the IS stronghold in Mosul.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he would meet his counterpart, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Salman Al-Saud, to enable the government to take measures to ensure national and Asean security.

“Do not think what happened there (Mosul) has nothing to do with us in Asean region.

“Information sharing is important to plan for IS militants fleeing Mosul,” he said at Parliament lobby yesterday. Agencies