- Title: Islamic State sniper hits Iraqi unit as army inches forward in Mosul
- Date: 28th November 2016
- Summary: INTISAR DISTRICT, EAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ (NOVEMBER 27, 2016) (REUTERS) INSIDE IRAQI MILITARY HUMVEE DRIVING INTO INTISAR NEIGHBOURHOOD GROUP OF IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS NEAR THEIR MILITARY HUMVEE SPEAKING TO REUTERS CORRESPONDENT IRAQI SOLDIER ON FOOT PATROL OF NEIGHBOURHOOD IRAQI ARMY INSIDE HOUSE USED AS TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI SOLDIER, SATTAR RIKAN, SAYING: "Daesh (militants) are taking positions on the top of the mosque on our left side and they are also in front of us. God willing, we will advance in the coming two or three days." IRAQI SOLDIER CLIMBING UP THE STEPS IRAQI SOLDIERS TAKING POSITIONS ON ROOF OF HOUSE IRAQI SOLDIER AIMING THROUGH HOLE IN WALL ON ROOF OF HOUSE IRAQI SOLDIER AIMING RIFLE THROUGH HOLE ON WALL OF ROOF SKYLINE OF AREA SOLDIER WIPING OFF BLOOD ON FLOOR (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI SOLDIER, SATTAR RIKAN, SAYING: "One (soldier) was wounded now in front of your eyes and we have one wounded in the morning. This will not affect us. If all of us are to be killed, we will liberate Mosul." IRAQI ARMY SOLDIERS IN COURTYARD IRAQI ARMY MEMBERS NEAR GATE OF HOUSE IRAQI SOLDIER WALKING BY DRIVING HUMVEE IN STREET IRAQI ARMY OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS IN NEIGHBOURHOOD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BRIGADIER GENERAL, MUSTAFA SABAH YOUNIS, 9th ARMOURED DIIVISION, BRIGADE 36, SAYING: "A battalion of the Nineveh police has arrived to hold the area in Intisar neighbourhood and we will advance. The forces of the 9th Armoured Division, Brigade 36, will advance towards Younis al-Sabawi area and Ansab area. God willing, we will liberate within two or three days." ARMOURED VEHICLE AND IRAQI SOLDIERS HOUSES OF NEIGHBOURHOOD DEMOLISHED HOUSES RESIDENTS WALKING THROUGH NEIGHBOURHOOD DEMOLISHED HOUSE IRAQI ARMY
- Embargoed: 13th December 2016 16:12
- Keywords: Iraq Mosul Islamic State sniper army
- Location: INTISAR DISTRICT, EAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ
- City: INTISAR DISTRICT, EAST OF MOSUL, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ACZV47
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Islamic State sniper was a good shot. His round hit the Iraqi soldier just above the eye through a hole in the wall no bigger than 10 inches across.
Two soldiers crouching behind other peep-holes on the roof rushed inside, keeping their bodies low to avoid being spotted by the sniper.
They carried semi-conscious Omar Abdul Wahid, in his late 20s, down two flights of narrow stairs, leaving a trail of bright red blood. They bundled him into an armoured vehicle and rushed him to hospital.
The challenge the men faced on Sunday (November 27) - of dealing with a sole sharpshooter in an area the army entered weeks ago - shows how difficult the battle to recapture Mosul is becoming, with Islamic State deploying snipers and suicide car bombs, and using civilians as human shields to bog down Iraqi forces.
The unit from Iraq's 9th Armoured Division had occupied the home in eastern Mosul's Intisar neighbourhood just two or three days ago as they make incremental advances against Islamic State as part a U.S.-backed campaign to recapture the city.
But the same sharpshooter had tied them down since then, in an area the army pushed into in early November.
"Daesh (militants) are taking positions on the top of the mosque on our left side and they are also in front of us. God willing, we will advance in the coming two or three days," said Sattar Rikan, one of the soldiers.
"One (soldier) was wounded now in front of your eyes and we have one wounded in the morning. This will not affect us. If all of us are to be killed, we will liberate Mosul," he added.
The U.S.-backed campaign to drive Islamic State out of its Iraq stronghold, which began in earnest last month, quickly retook surrounding villages. But advances slowed once Iraqi forces entered Mosul itself, in an increasingly costly fight. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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