Washington Free Beacon: Mosul Offensive Hindered by ISIS Violence, Desertions
Kurdish forces doubt ability of Iraqi army soldiers.
Iraqi army soldiers were forced to withdraw from their mission to capture three villages held by the Islamic State last week, spelling trouble for the force as it gears up capture Mosul, the terror group’s de facto capital in Iraq.
USA Today reported:
[Thursday’s mission] proved to be a slog because of heavy rains, tougher-than-expected resistance from the militants and reports of the low morale that has dogged the Iraqi military ever since the Islamic State swept into Iraq in 2014. The stalled operation underscored just how difficult it will be to dislodge the militants from Mosul. … By Saturday, the Iraqi soldiers were bogged down outside the strategic hilltop village ofNassrash, where suicide bombers killed at least seven soldiers. The next day, rain turned the area’s dirt roads into quagmires and cloud cover prevented coalition jets from providing effective support.
The Iraqi army’s mission began with the primary goal of stripping the villages of ISIS control before crossing the Tigris River to recapture the ISIS-held town of Qayyarah. The soldiers were backed by air support from the U.S.-led coalition, artillery fire from U.S. Marines, and logistical support from Kurdish fighters.
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Previous Post: Iraqi Soldiers Flee In Their First Mosul Military Operation
Update #1: Iraq Army's Mosul offensive stalls in face of fierce fighting, desertions -- USA Today
Update #2: Front line view of Mosul offensive as Iraq appeals for help against ISIL -- Euronews
Update #3: Heavy Fighting, Desertions Hinder Iraqi Army’s Mosul Offensive -- Breitbart
WNU Editor: American troops to the rescue? .... Obama could decide on greater troop presence in Iraq soon: general (Reuters)
Update #4: This sums it up nicely .... Why the Iraqi Operation to Retake Mosul Is Such a Mess (Time).
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