- Title: Iraqi army drops leaflets over Mosul ahead of Old City offensive
- Date: 19th June 2017
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 18, 2017) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) IRAQI AIR FORCE PLANE ON TARMAC AT BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IRAQI ARMY MEMBERS INSIDE PLANE WITH BOXES OF LEAFLET PREPARING TO TAKE OFF BOXES WITH LEAFLETS INSIDE PLANE LABEL ON BOX WITH LEAFLETS READING (Arabic) "IRAQI FORCES HAVE STARTED STORMING TERRORISTS' LAST STRONGHOLD IN YOUR DISTRICTS AND IN ORDER TO PROTECT YOUR LIVES WE URGE YOU TO KEEP AWAY FROM OPEN AREAS AND TRY TO SEIZE AVAILABLE OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED TO YOU BY THE FORCES DURING FIGHTING AND MOVE TOWARDS THEM TO ESCAPE BEING USED AS HUMAN SHIELDS (BY ISLAMIC STATE)." IRAQI ARMY MEMBERS CLOSING PLANE DOOR, BOXES WITH LEAFLETS STANDING INSIDE PILOT AND CO-PILOT TALKING INSIDE COCKPIT PLANE CONTROL BOARD (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAJOR MALI AL-ZUBAIDI, SAYING: "The duty is to drop leaflets on our people who are still in the Mosul's Old City urging them to cooperate with the security forces and explaining them ways of communicating with them and how to survive in the face of Daesh, God willing. Since the start of the battle against Daesh up to this moment, we have carried out a number of similar tasks including dropping leaflets or food aid and God willing we will prevail." PILOT AND CO-PILOTS SITTING IN COCKPIT IN AIR (JUNE 18, 2017) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) LEAFLETS BEING DROPPED FROM PLANE VARIOUS OF IRAQI ARMY MEMBER THROWING LEAFLETS OUT OF PLANE IRAQI ARMY MEMBER CLOSING PLANE DOOR VARIOUS OF LEAFLETS SCATTERED ON PLANE'S FLOOR PLANE CREW AND SCATTERED LEAFLETS LYING ON PLANE'S FLOOR
- Embargoed: 3rd July 2017 11:09
- Keywords: Mosul offensive Old City offensive leaflet drop Iraqi forces Islamic State
- Location: MOSUL AND BAGHDAD, IRAQ / IN AIR
- City: MOSUL AND BAGHDAD, IRAQ / IN AIR
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Military Conflicts
- Reuters ID: LVA0016LY11L3
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Iraqi air force dropped tens of thousands of leaflets on the western side of Mosul late on Sunday (June 18) warning residents that Iraqi forces have started storming the Islamic State-held Old City of Mosul, in an assault they hope will be the last in the eight-month-old campaign to seize the militants' stronghold.
The leaflets contained instructions for about 100,000 civilians still trapped in the Old City to stay away from open areas and urged citizens to exit through safe corridors provided by Iraqi forces to escape being used as human shields.
The historic district, and a tiny area to its north, are the only parts of the city still under control of the Islamists. The Iraqi army estimates the number of Islamic State fighters at no more than 300, down from nearly 6,000 in the city when the battle of Mosul started last October.
Meanwhile, Iraq's Prime Minister Haider started a Middle East tour on Monday (June 19) which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran and Kuwait, to try foster regional reconciliation between the Sunni Muslim kingdom and majority Shi'ite Iraq. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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