"What happens after ISIS loses Mosul" Topic

"So it begins: The long-envisioned assault on Mosul, the hugely symbolic Iraqi city where Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared ISIS' self-styled "caliphate" more than two years ago.

Not only is Mosul Iraq's second largest city, it is also a key to ISIS' claim to have installed for the first time since the collapse of the Ottoman empire a genuine caliphate with millions of subjects and territory that once encompassed lands the size of the United Kingdom.
There is little doubt that ISIS will lose Mosul and likely before the next US president takes office. On Monday, the commander of the anti-ISIS coalition, US Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, released a statement saying the Mosul operation "will likely continue for weeks, possibly longer." …"
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Amicalement
Armand

Your assuming the Iraqis will ever get around to attacking it.

Thus far, as near as I can tell, they continue to dither, hence the cryptic "….weeks, possibly longer….." quote.

It's only been a few years now, and there are plenty more decades to come in this century, so….

In the meantime, spare a thought for the civilians of Mosul.
The one certainty is that more misery is on it's way to them.

It may be a multi-player civil war once Daesh is eliminated from Mosul. The Kurds may not want to give it back, etc., etc., …

In the meantime, spare a thought for the civilians of Mosul.
The one certainty is that more misery is on it's way to them.

Reports are already coming in, not unexpectedly though, that Daesh is using civilians as human shields … Makes one understand if there are no Daesh prisoners … even if they did try to surrender. They like to be human bombs. We see that too often … The Iraqis know that all too well.

Don't hold your breath. The Iraqis might get around to Mosul eventually after they help Assad take eastern Aleppo with Russian support: TMP link

Mako – you are aware they're attacking it now, right?

Not sure the USMC could take out such a target in anything less than weeks… it's a lot bigger than Falluja.

They are actually still attacking the villages near and around Mosul at this time. For obvious reasons that is just good tactics, etc. …

Not sure the USMC could take out such a target in anything less than weeks… it's a lot bigger than Falluja.

The US final attack on Fallujah in GWII was classic insurgent urban warfare. With the US being concerned about CD, etc.,… And the Iraqis were the primary force in Fallujah. And they were in their "backyard", etc., …

When the Iraqis(with US support) cleared Fallujah in the recently. Many Daesh were foreign fighters. And were in smaller numbers than when the Iraqis vs. the US in GWII.

And Daesh knew that holding places like Fallujah was important. But not as important as holding their Caliphate capital in Iraq, Mosul … And we are now seeing that coming about …

The Iraqis might get around to Mosul eventually after they help Assad take eastern Aleppo with Russian support:

I may be wrong … but I think Mosul may fall before Raqqa (if there will be anything left of it ?). But it may be close.

The Iraqi forces in Syria are primarily Shia militias supported by IRGC. Plus some local Kurds. 40,000 Kurds are among the forces to take Mosul. So we will have to see …

Nope, they're not attacking "Mosul" now, just other villages around it, and reportedly, if the account I heard today is correct, the entire Iraqi "Army" (I use that term very loosely) has been held up for 2 – 3 days by just 5 – 6 ISIS fighters.

So, it appears they're off to a fine start.

Doing the math, and hearing that 5 fighters have held them up for three days, and there are an estimated 5,000 ISIS fighters in Mosul, it should take about 9 years to liberate the city, give or take a few days, at this brisk rate of progress.

I heard the same report. Hopefully it is incorrect … Again I continue to hope to see I am proved wrong about Iraqi combat effectiveness. But so far … not so much.

And yes I give them credit for fighting Daesh and trying to reclaim their country [as it is …]. But again it is their country and their fellow moslems are being killed by other moslems. Save for the Vazidis and Christians that are being killed by some moslems … if there are any left ?

Also heard our attack helos are now assisting, so that might speed things along a bit.

How effective are the Iraqi "special forces" ?
Just heard a news report says they have now been committed.

How effective are the Iraqi "special forces" ?

About equal to a decent Western light infantry unit. Somewhere on my hard drive is a *REALLY GOOD* article about the Iraqi Counter-Terrorist Forces. One of these days I'll dig it up and post it. They are decently trained, motivated, and combat-proven troops.

Good to know Noble … So it seems all the training, support and $$$$ from the West may have paid some dividends.

Also heard our attack helos are now assisting, so that might speed things along a bit.

Yes, I have seen footage of AH-64s in action against Daesh. At one point it was reported that they saw the AH-64 as a symbol of oppression, terror, etc., … I doubt the feel that way now … Well maybe Daesh feels something like that currently …