Iraq: New front against IS militants northwest of Mosul as of May 4

Event

On Thursday, May 4, an Iraqi Military Commander announced that Iraqi Security Forces had opened a new front against Islamic State (IS) militants northwest of Mosul. The Iraqi Forces entered Mosul from the north in order to retake three strategic neighborhoods (Mucharifah, Kanissah and Am-Haramat) after securing most of the southern part of West Mosul. According to local activists, IS now controls only ten neighborhoods of Western Mosul.

Context

The offensive to retake western Mosul started on February 19 after Iraqi Forces secured East Mosul in an operation that started in October 2016.

Mosul is a symbolic and strategically important stronghold for IS in Iraq. Iraqi armed forces alongside the Kurdish Peshmerga have made important territorial gains in Mosul, in the south and east of the city respectively; Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) forces entered the easternmost districts of the city on November 1 and Iraqi forces liberated East Mosul on January 18, 2017. Iraqi forces are supported by an international coalition that carries out regular airstrikes against IS.

The United Nations (UN) has warned that the Mosul operation could result in more than 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the region. The higher than expected remaining civilian presence in the city has partly contributed to the slowdown of the operation.

Advice

The security environment in Iraq remains complex. Although travel is permissible in some areas, other areas should be considered strictly off limits. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to all travel.