MOSUL–(ENEWSPF)–November 3, 2016
Iraqis displaced by ISIS return to their village following the arrival of Iraqi forces
Iraqi troops cleared away obstacles and explosives to enter the city of Mosul on Thursday and engage ISIS troops near the neighborhood of al Intisar.
Counter-terrorism forces have been on the city’s eastern outskirts since Monday but have struggled to push through ISIS snipers, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), suicide attacks and even boulders placed on the main road to the city to slow forces’ progress.
The cleared corridor on the city’s eastern side is not only a path for Iraqi troops coming into the fray, it’s allowing civilians to be evacuated. On the western side of the city, militia groups aligned with the broad coalition against ISIS have cut off lines of retreat, meaning that—no matter what Donald Trump says—the group’s leaders can’t make an easy escape. Meanwhile, coalition air forces are directing targeted attacks into the 5,000 estimated ISIS fighters in the heart of the city.
ISIS continues to have snipers in many locations, taking shots at both coalition forces and civilians, but hundreds have already fled the city to reach safety behind coalition lines.
“It’s very hard to describe our feelings right now. It feels like we have new life,” she said while holding her young daughter.
The attack on Mosul completely lacks the Trump genius of rushing the city piecemeal while screaming ‘surprise.’ Instead it is forced to make do with a carefully assembled coalition of almost 100,000, working a coordinated plan. Yet somehow this force continues to make steady advances, retaking villages, freeing civilians, thwarting ISIS traps, and taking down ISIS forces. As Trump says, it’s a total disaster.
Source: http://dailykos.com
