The Battle For Mosul Rages On
The fight to drive Islamic State fighters from the Iraqi city of Mosul shows no signs of being completed, despite local forces being supplied and trained by the coalition.
It’s thought thousands of fighters from the Islamic State (IS) terror group remain in the city, as tens of thousands of civilians flee.
It seems the Coalition is trying its hardest to support the Iraqi and Peshmerga ground advance, but between 3,000 and 5,000 IS fighters still control swathes of the city - and that’s causing a humanitarian catastrophe.
More than 100,000 people have fled the city and surrounding villages since the military mission to retake Mosul began on 17 October.
At first, when Iraqi and Peshmerga forces began their advance into Mosul, progress was swift.
More: 'Battle For Mosul: Iraqi Army "Ahead Of Schedule"'
Many commentators felt IS would abandon their positions and live to fight another day somewhere else, but they haven’t, forcing Iraqi and Peshmerga troops to commit to a long fight.
Undoubtedly, the training many of them have received from British and American military mentors will have been utilised and put to the test.
Meanwhile, support from the coalition has continued - ground forces are working in tandem with airstrikes delivered by the RAF and US Air Force.
Both the Coalition and local forces on the ground remain committed to defeating IS in Mosul, but as the pace of the military campaign continues, the danger for civilians in the city increases, leading to real fears of another Aleppo-type civilian crisis.
Cover image: An Iraqi soldier training in October, 2016, for the Mosul offensive
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