Quick guide to understanding the battle for Mosul
A victory for Iraq’s U.S.-trained and equipped forces would spell the end of the militants’ caliphate in Iraq and mark a dramatic defeat for the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS. Iraqi and Kurdish forces are pressing in on the city from three major fronts and in the first 10 days of fighting reached near the edge of the city amid moderate resistance.
The toughest fighting lies ahead. Determined militants are inside the city and have built a ring of deadly obstacles designed to slow Iraq’s advance. Iraq’s military will have to carefully clear lanes through the obstacles and then begin the difficult job of clearing the city, block by block.
The Islamic State has had two years to build a network of deadly obstacles inside the city.
ISIL might have trenches filled with oil that it can light on fire in order to obscure its movements from coalition drones and other surveillance aircraft.
Militants have built networks of tunnels to defend against coalition airstrikes and to hide from Iraqi forces as they enter the city.
Militants have rigged buildings and buried explosives. They often use car and truck bombs to attack Iraqis from behind their lines.
Militants will attempt to fire on Iraqi forces when they are trying to get around or clear such obstacles.
The collection of different forces will be a challenge to command and control. They include:
About 12 Iraqi and two Kurdish brigades. These forces have tanks, artillery, armored vehicles and mine-clearing and other equipment. They are being used to advance toward the center of the city.
Iraq has a number of elite counterterrorism battalions experienced in urban warfare. These forces did much of the fighting in Ramadi and Fallujah when militants were cleared from those cities. They are lightly armed but highly trained and disciplined.
Iraq’s government wants to use local forces to hold the city once militants are driven out. The U.S.-led coalition helped train a contingent of tribal forces and police who will perform this function so soldiers and other forces can withdraw once the city has been cleared.
American advisers are positioned with Iraqi and Kurdish brigades, assisting with coordination of airstrikes and providing other support. They are generally positioned at brigade headquarters and are not engaged in direct combat.
ISIL’S SUPPORT AND CONTROL IN IRAQ
Over the past year, Iraqi security forces have turned the tide on the Islamic State and have pushed the militants out of Fallujah, Ramadi and other towns and cities.
SOURCES Institute for the Study of War, ERSI, Paste BN research
