Tabnak – As the international forces are tightening their
grip against ISIS’ self-proclaimed capital in Syria, the group is experiencing hard
days in Iraq, too. With liberation of Mosul in their focus, Iraqi forces have
also managed to push back the terrorists in other parts of the country.
In a report published today Reuters writes that Iraq's Shiite
popular forces launched an offensive on Friday to drive ISIS from a desert
region near the border with Syria as security forces fought the militants in
the city of Mosul.
Spokesman Karim al-Nouri said the target of the operation
was the Qairawan and Baaj areas about 100 km west of Mosul, where US-backed
Iraqi forces are advancing in their campaign to rout the militants from city.
The Iraqi military said in a statement its air force was
supporting the operation by the Shiite popular groups known collectively as
Hashid al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).
Earlier this week, Newsweek reported that ISIS had suffered
major losses in its last Iraqi stronghold of Mosul in recent days as
pro-government forces have rapidly advanced against the terrorists.
The report further indicates that with ISIS' casualties
mounting and escape routes to the terrorists’ territory in neighboring Syria
narrowing, the group that controlled nearly half of Iraq in 2014 has put up
fierce resistance in defending the collapsing lines of the less than seven
percent that remains. Despite the terrorists’ efforts, US and Iraqi officials
have predicted an early victory.
A new battle plan involving a northwest advance has seen
swifter success, said Iraqi special forces Lieutenant General Sami al-Arathi in
a statement on Thursday. "[ISIS] didn't have any real defences prepared there
for this new thrust and its manpower was depleted [...] That has led to a quick
advance and now the army and police have connected with the Counter Terrorism
Forces in the center,” said Iraq analyst and author of ‘Musings on Iraq‘ blog
Joel Wing to The Independent.
Meanwhile, according to the Kurdish news outlet Rudaw, as
Iraqi forces continue to advance against ISIS terrorists in West Mosul, their
defeat is inevitable, which raises the salient question about Iraq's readiness
and preparation for administrating the city after the militants’ removal.
However, analysts on Iraq, while worried, do believe there
are some glimmers of hope that the city can be substantially stabilized after
it’s completely pried from ISIS’ grip.
"There are no real plans, it is all improvisation at the
moment. Resources are being thrown piecemeal at needs as they become
available,” said Michael Knights, the Lafer Fellow at the Washington Institute
and noted Iraq analyst.
All in all, it seems that given the recent field
developments in both Syria in Iraq, next few months will be a very hard time
for the terrorists and also a decisive moment which could determine the future
path of the two countries.
