The Road Back to Mosul

                 by David Parmer/Tokyo

Mosul, northern Iraq, the capital of the “Caliphate” set up by Daesh. Mosul, the city that fell to Daesh in 2014. Mosul, the city where Iraqi forces put down their arms and abandoned them along with their equipment to Daesh. Mosul, home to around 2.0 million people living under the terror that is the fundamentalist vision of Daesh. Mosul, once one of the few places in the country called Iraq that was “working.” Mosul, a city that must, and will be, liberated from Daesh.

The offensive is coming and the pieces are falling into place. Kurdish Peshmerga, YKK and PKK fighters along with the Iraqi Army and international support and US advisors will move on Mosul in an effort to retake the city. The timeline is for the action to begin this year. The Prime Minister of Iraq, Hider al-Abadi is quoted as saying so.

                                  (Kurdish PKK fighters)

Reports also indicate that there are between 8,000-10,000 Daesh fighters in the city. They have had almost two years to create and improve their fighting positions and barricades. Some estimates say that it will take around eight Iraqi and two Kurdish brigades to retake the city. This offensive will get extensive coalition logistical and medical support. The coalition will, of course, supply air power to aid in the fight, before the offensive begins to soften up Daesh positions, and during the offensive to support ground troops.

The question is: will the attacking forces ever be “ready” enough? Unless Daesh fighters simply run away, there will be a long and bloody fight. Tremendous suffering will be inflicted on the civilian population, and in all probability, when the fighting is finished, Mosul will be in ruins and its people mostly refugees. Night after night the media will show dying and destruction in the northern city of Mosul. Do you have any thoughts on the retaking of Mosul? If so, log in and let us know.

Retaking Mosul Is Now Upon Us, VOA (Voice of America)

Iraq on Track To Retake Mosul This Year, Reuters

Photo: Road Sign, Jeffrey Beall via flickr

Photo: Kurdish PKK fighters via flickr