Iraqi forces launch second phase of Mosul offensive against Islamic State

Record ID: 162630

  • Title: Iraqi forces launch second phase of Mosul offensive against Islamic State
  • Date: 29th December 2016
  • Summary: QUDS NEIGHBOURHOOD, EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ (DECEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) STREET IN THE QUDS NEIGHBOURHOOD OF MOSUL / AUDIO OF GUNFIRE HUMVEE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET MILITARY HELICOPTER FLYING OVER THE AREA SMOKE RISING FROM A LOCATION IN THE CITY COUNTER-TERRORISM SERVICE (CTS) IN THE QUDS NEIGHBOURHOOD TANK IN THE STREET VARIOUS OF (CTS) HUMVEES DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA SOLDIERS / TANKS FIRING HUMVEE DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA CTS SOLDIER LOOKING AT HIS PHONE SOLDIER DRIVING A HUMVEE THROUGH THE AREA HEAD OF THE COUNTER TERRORISM UNIT, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELGHANI AL-ASSADI, GREETING SOLDIERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF THE COUNTER TERRORISM UNIT, LIEUTENANT GENERAL ABDELGHANI AL-ASSADI, SAYING: "Today we relaunched the second phase (of the offensive). It is a blessed day in which we defeated Daesh (Islamic State) in the Quds neighbourhood, where (the militants) used to target the families, terrorise the children and damage civilian property." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS SPEAKING TO RESIDENTS STREET IN THE QUDS NEIGHBOURHOOD
  • Embargoed: 13th January 2017 20:58
  • Keywords: Iraq Mosul Quds neighbourhood Islamic State Iraqi forces
  • Location: EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ
  • City: EASTERN MOSUL, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
  • Reuters ID: LVA0015EXTD1J
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Iraqi security forces began the second phase of their offensive against Islamic State militants in Mosul on Thursday (December 29), pushing from three directions into eastern districts where the battle has been deadlocked for nearly a month.
    U.S.-backed forces have retaken a quarter of the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq in the biggest ground operation there since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein.
    More than 5,000 soldiers and federal police troops, redeployed from Mosul's southern outskirts, entered half a dozen southeastern districts, while counter-terrorism forces advanced in al-Quds and Karama districts after reinforcements arrived.
    "Today we relaunched the second phase (of the offensive). It is a blessed day in which we defeated Daesh (Islamic State) in the Quds neighbourhood, where (the militants) used to target the families, terrorise the children and damage civilian property," said head of the counter-terrorism forces, Lt. Gen. Abdelghani al-Assadi.
    A U.S.-led coalition backing the Iraqis said the operation had opened two new fronts inside Mosul and limited Islamic State's ability to raise fighter numbers, move them or resupply.
    The fall of Mosul would probably spell the end for Islamic State's ambition to rule over millions of people in a self-styled caliphate, although the militants would still be capable of waging a traditional insurgency in Iraq, and plotting or inspiring attacks on the West.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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