ISIS Leaders Killed as Iraqi Forces Encircle Strategic Mosque
U.S.-led coalition airstrikes have resulted in the death of seven senior Islamic State (ISIS) leaders in western Mosul this week. This developed as Iraqi troops began to encircle the Great Mosque of al-Nuri, the site which the jihadis' leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate three years ago.
Iraqi authorities said the seven ISIS officials were slain in two separate airstrikes. Warplanes targeted al-Tanak district and killed three of the enemies' leaders namely, Yunus al-Jubouri aka Abu Hajar al-Arabi, suicide fighters' commander; Azab Mamoud Taha aka Abu Mohamed, in charge of drafting children fighters; and Sabah al-Mawla aka Abu Aws al-Iraqi, chief booby-trapping officer.
The planes also located and pounded a leader's hideout in the neighborhood of Tenk, resulting in the death of four other officials identified as Hazim al-Jabouri aka Abu Qais, ISIS police officer; Mohammed Bajari aka Abu Shahin, head of Islam Military Regiment; Qidar Aqrawi aka Abu Salman al-Kurdi, military leader; and Mujahid Anzi, aka Abu Mustafa, originally Saudi and head of Zakat Diwan.
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As the operation to retake ISIS' largest stronghold progresses, the Iraqi army's Rapid Response Force and Golden Division have completely surrounded the Great Mosque. Both units are 40 meters and 120 meters away, respectively, from the mosque and its minaret, Rudaw reported.
Since the Mosul operation codenamed "We Are Coming Nineveh" began on Oct. 17, 2016, the number of militants have diminished. About 1,000 militants were killed in 62 operations and 330 square kilometers of the city have been recovered, according to Lt. Gen. Abdulamir Yaralla.
Beginning Feb. 19, fighting has concentrated on the western part of the Old City where the jihadis retreated. Weeks-long clashes have been "intense due to ISIS preparations ahead of the operation, digging tunnels and placing road bombs around the neighborhoods," Yaralla said.
Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to Kurdish President Masoud Barzani expects ISIS to survive after the fall of Mosul but not as a state. He believes the group will regenerate and revert back to being a guerrilla-type organization carrying out terror attacks but with limited resources.
