Noose tightens on ISIS in Mosul
Despite what we heard yesterday, the battle for Mosul is progressing nicely, according to CBS News. The Kurds are taking smaller towns north of the Iraqi city which will put them within shouting distance of Mosul soon;
two ISIS drones approached in the air. They were small, and it’s not clear whether they were armed, but the Kurdish troops shot them down quickly. Earlier this month, two Kurdish fighters were killed by an ISIS drone loaded with explosives.
Meanwhile, elite Iraqi special forces troops moved into position Thursday to the east of Mosul. They’re fighting to recapture several Christian towns and villages along the main road into the city. The special forces managed to enter the ancient Christian enclave of Bartella after a clashes with militants and several suicide truck bombs.
On Wednesday, an Iraqi officer bragged to CBS News that they would be inside Mosul within a matter of hours – a much faster approach to the city where there are thought to be less than 5,000 ISIS militants still holding out.
According to BBC, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is “upbeat” about the operation;
The Iraqi prime minister made his comments via video-link to an international meeting in Paris on the future of Mosul.
“The forces are pushing towards the town more quickly than we thought and more quickly than we had programmed in our campaign plan,” he said.
He hailed co-operation between the army and Kurdish troops, saying they were “fighting harmoniously together” to free Iraqi territory from IS.
The Army Times reports that Apache gunships have entered the fray;
[Major General Gary Volesky, commander of U.S. and coalition land forces in Iraq], speaking to reporters at the Pentagon via video link from his headquarters in Baghdad, also disclosed that U.S. Army Apache helicopters have entered the battle for Mosul. He declined to provide specifics, citing the need to preserve operational security, but said they have been striking Islamic State targets at night. The mere presence of the Apaches on the battlefield has been a confidence booster for Iraqi soldiers, he said.
The Apaches, he said, can “see a long range at night” and strike targets from a great distance. “That’s what they’re doing,” he said.
Volesky said some Islamic State forces already are giving up their positions in the outskirts of Mosul and pulling back into the city. He said he expects this trend to continue. They are then likely to attempt to block the entry of Iraqi forces into the city, using a “full-fledged conventional defense.”
Category: Terror War
As long as the Apaches stand off from the Iraqis, I’m good. As for the upbeat reports and the Iraqi officer’s rosy view that this is a much faster approach to the city where there are thought to be less than 5,000 ISIS militants still holding out, I’m not buying a word of it. If it’s faster than expected it’s b/c the Black Flaggers have learned a thing or two and will fight in the city. Getting caught in or between villages with anything but a token force would be pretty damn stupid. Note that the estimated 5,000 (I know they picked that number out of their butts) are described as “still holding out.” Still holding out? The shit has not yet hit the fan. They aren’t holding out. They are entrenched and prepared after two years in the city and probably jumping for joy that they will be facing the Iraqi sprint and long distance track teams. (As I understand it, the Kurds aren’t going into Mosul. Their ops are restricted to outlying areas.)
So they just admitted that most of the fighters already left and went where exactly?
They do have that pesky inherent right to emigrate.
The Apaches, he said, can “see a long range at night” and strike targets from a great distance. “That’s what they’re doing,” he said.
Lest anybody get the wrong ideas about whether or not the U.S. Army is actively involved in any warfighting in Iraq or anything.
As long as our guys are not having to experience another Fallujah, I’m good.
I really like the idea of standing off and hitting targets in the when the was-was think they’re not seen.
Those who think we are not actively involved are paying more attention to their rainbow-colored unicorn in their bedrooms.
US Apache helicopters involved with taking Mosul.
Equals.
No boots on the ground…
Sad to say we may see more of this. First U.S. Casulty
http://abcnews.go.com/International/american-dies-northern-iraq-offensive-isis/story?id=42945630
I’m surprised our resident grad student isn’t here lecturing us about how racist this policy is to put our indigenous people closest to the battle.
The ISers are burning tires to obscure vision between the opposition’s front lines and Mosul. That includes any and all abanadoned villages, which are also planted with homemade mines and rife with tunnels.
Now, if I can find that in a report from a foreign news source, not some whimpering US publication, who do you think is correct?
If CBS and the Pentagon don’t know this has been the ISIS plan since they took Mosul and have since been advised of the coming attack, then they are dumber than I thought and that was a very low bar to start with.
They are dumber than you thought Sparks.
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While the Big Parade of Heroic Forces is moving toward Mosul, ISIS decided it would be a good time to attack elsewhere. So, they hit Kirkuk, attacking a power station, killing about six police and a dozen or so workers at the plant. They’re still at it, roaming around there, unhampered by the Heroic Forces busy elsewhere. Doh.
Elite? Iraqi? Special forces?
BWHAHAHAHAHA
I wonder how they would fare against the standard US GI Joe?
The UN is now warning of the likely prospect that ISIS may use noncombatants as human shields. No shit.
I’ll take “What reminds me of Stalingrad” for $1000 Alex and let’s make that a true daily double.