The Battle for Mosul…Again… CPT (r) Tyler Merritt October 19, 2016 Veteran Inspired 105 This week has been one of reckoning for Iraq’s battle against ISIS. They have finally started moving forces into position to assault Mosul. Various elements of the Iraqi military, to include armor and infantry, have pressed forward and have been liberating village after village — thirteen in total — and are getting to within striking distance of the city proper. In addition, there are Peshmerga forces, along with US Special Forces operating in 12–16 man teams, from the Kurdish regions which are closing into their positions as well. The entire effort is supported by US and Coalition airstrikes. How We Got Here During the US war in Iraq, there was a lot of activity in and around Mosul. Initially, the US military was going to invade via Turkey with Mosul as one of the first major cities to be taken, but Turkey’s parliament didn’t grant the US permission to launch from its borders, thus the plan was scrapped. Throughout the early 2000s, there were many periods of fighting throughout Mosul and its surrounding areas. Following the US withdrawal from Iraq, ISIS forces, pushing east from Syria, took Mosul from Iraqi forces in June 2014. And for most who watched at the time, it was a fairly embarrassing affair all around, with Iraqi military ditching their uniforms and weapons and running. This ultimately turned over, amongst other equipment, a Stryker vehicle, 120mm mortar systems and over 700 Humvees. The Plan This is one of the largest movements and assaults undertaken since Iraqi forces retook Tikrit in 2015. But this time, Peshmerga forces — the Kurds — are joining in the assault on the city that is right up against the border of their region. All of the coalition has been moving into position within three to four miles of the city and are going to begin the assault at any time now. One Iraqi general believes the battle will take about two months. The Memories For those who served time in the region, this can be a bitter taste. It’s difficult to see cities and regions on which US blood had been shed being taken from the cowardly forces left behind. The military did its best to train the Iraqi military for the day that we would no longer be present, but that preparation wasn’t nearly enough to repel the onslaught of ISIS. Fallujah, Tikrit, Mosul — these were places that we had invested a great deal of blood and life. Seeing them taken by the savageness of ISIS has been rough. Now, at least, the US is again bombing them back to the stone age in attempt to give the assaulting elements as much of a chance at success as possible. The situation is always changing, but this time it looks like the coalition has a pretty decent shot. There are rumors of ISIS using anything from chemical weapons to burning tires in order to mask their movements and in general inflict as many casualties as possible on the assaulting element. We can only hope that Iraqi and Peshmerga forces will hold the line, bring the fight to the enemy and take the day. In the meantime, if you feel so inclined, make your own feelings toward ISIS blatantly known and share a round with ISIS!
