The Fourth Day of the Battle of Mosul

The Fourth Day of the Battle of Mosul

By Hailey Lawrence

 

As Iraqi and some US forces enter the fourth day of its advance towards Mosul, ISIS attacked the Iraqi city of Kirkuk before dawn on Friday morning. 

Special forces join the fight outside of Mosul. As of Thursday, forces were 9 miles outside of Mosul.

This attack is seen as a distraction from the efforts in Mosul. As it is considered the fourth day of the battle, it is calculated that it will be one of the toughest fights yet for security forces fighting the Islamic State militants, according to NPR. Forces, however, are reporting progress and are pushing closer and closer, reaching to the town of Bartella on Thursday, which is 9 miles from the outskirts of Mosul. Victory in Mosul will push ISIS out of the last major city in Iraq. 

The attack itself involved suicide bombers attacking police stations and gunmen shot police, according to Alice Fordham for NPR. Additionally, ISIS attacked an electricity station right outside of Kirkuk. There were 13 casualties, all of them workers at the electricity station. ISIS claimed responsibility online promptly after both attacks.

Besides two attacks accompanying the elevated tension in Mosul, the UN announced that there are reports that ISIS fighters may be using civilians as human shields. According to UN Human Rights Office, "ISIL forced some 200 families out of Samalia village to walk to Mosul," and "350 families fled Bajafia village in Nimroud Sub-district, towards Mosul, highlighting ISIL's apparently policy of preventing civilians from escaping to areas controlled by Iraqi security forces." The UN also reported that at least 20 civilians has been shot dead by ISIL.

"We know ISIL has no regard for human life, which is why it is incumbent upon the Iraqi government to do its utmost to protect civilians." U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said.

The fight continues and although casualties are reported to be very little, time will tell what happens next in the coming days of this battle.

For more on the battle of Mosul, click here.