Battle of Mosul

Battle of Mosul was a major military campaign launched by the Iraqi Armed Forces, supported by a broad international coalition, to recapture the city of Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The operation, which lasted from October 2016 to July 2017, became the largest urban battle since the Second World War and a defining event in the War against the Islamic State. Its successful conclusion marked the effective end of the caliphate's territorial control in Iraq, though at a tremendous humanitarian cost.

Background

The battle's origins lie in the lightning offensive of June 2014, when ISIL forces captured Mosul and vast swathes of northern Iraq, declaring a cross-border caliphate. The loss of Iraq's second-largest city was a catastrophic defeat for the Iraqi Army and a strategic victory for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Following years of preparation and preliminary operations like the liberation of Ramadi and the siege of Fallujah, the Government of Iraq under Haider al-Abadi, with critical support from the United States-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve, planned a decisive counter-offensive. Key allied ground forces included the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, federal police, the Popular Mobilization Forces, and the Kurdish Peshmerga.

The battle

The operation commenced on 16 October 2016 with a multi-pronged advance. The Iraqi Army and federal police attacked from the south, while Peshmerga forces secured territory east of the Tigris River. Initial progress was slow as ISIL fighters employed extensive IEDs, suicide car bombs, and sniper positions. The campaign's most intense phase began in February 2017 with the push into Mosul's dense western districts, including the Old City. Fierce street-by-street fighting occurred in neighborhoods like Al-Zanjili and around the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, which ISIL destroyed in June. The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, advised by United States Special Operations Forces, played a leading role in the final assault. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi formally declared victory on 10 July 2017.

Aftermath

The liberation of Mosul crippled the territorial authority of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Iraq, though insurgent attacks continued. The city was left in ruins, with critical infrastructure like the Mosul International Airport and the University of Mosul heavily damaged. A massive humanitarian crisis unfolded, with nearly one million civilians displaced and requiring aid from organizations like the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The victory solidified the authority of Haider al-Abadi but exposed tensions among the victorious factions, particularly between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdish Regional Government, foreshadowing the later 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict.

Military analysis

Military historians compare the scale of urban destruction to the Battle of Stalingrad or the Second Battle of Fallujah. The coalition's combined arms approach, integrating precise airstrikes from the United States Air Force and Royal Air Force with specialized ground forces, proved decisive. However, ISIL's effective use of asymmetric warfare, including elaborate tunnel networks and human shields, prolonged the conflict and increased civilian casualties. The battle demonstrated the evolving role of Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraqi security and highlighted the critical importance of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance provided by the Central Intelligence Agency and coalition partners.

Cultural impact

The battle and its aftermath have been documented in numerous films and series, such as the BBC documentary Mosul and the Netflix series The Mosul Case. The destruction of cultural heritage sites, including the Great Mosque of al-Nuri and the Al-Hadba' Minaret, was condemned by UNESCO. The suffering of civilians inspired international artistic responses, including works displayed at the Venice Biennale. The event remains a potent symbol in regional politics, referenced in speeches by leaders like Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and continues to shape narratives about the War on Terror and the future of Iraq.

Category:Battles of the Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Category:Mosul Category:2016 in Iraq Category:2017 in Iraq