ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to Pakistan, Dr Ali Yassin Mohammed Karim said that Iraq’s success against Daesh in Mosul is a “historic victory” against terrorism, which is not confined to Iraq only but it’s a global success for all peace-loving nations.
Dr Ali Yassin Mohammed Karim was addressing a press conference at Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Pakistan on Friday.
Interaction with media was with the special reference to Iraqi forces’ conquest over Daesh (ISIS) in Mosul. He opined that nine months ago, the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces announced the start of operations with the name (Ninawa, we are coming) to liberate the city of Mosul.
The liberation of Mosul was announced on the evening of Monday, July 10, 2017 by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Dr Haider al-Abadi, Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq from the heart of the city. He also toured its various areas, he informed.
“The last days of the battles were decisive and the confrontation was face-to-face within the old city’s bazaar” he said. Now the local government of the governorate of Mosul (Governor – Governorate Council) will play the role of city administration, he said. He told the media that a large number of Iraqi Army and the anti-terrorism formations, the federal police, the popular mobilization forces, the Peshmerga and fighters from Iraqi tribes participated in the liberation of Mosul and these formations distributed on multiple axes according to the plan drawn and all committed to carry out their duties in accordance with the directives of the commander-in-chief.
Ambassador said that the liberation of the eastern part of the city was completed during a record period. After all, the defenses of Daesh were collapsed. “The anti-terrorist forces have been relied upon in most of the liberation operations on the western side of the city, he said. Iraqi envoy informed the media that the operations of the western side were more difficult and complicated because of the nature of the neighborhoods and the interlocking streets in the old city and the narrow roads.
“We need international efforts in the area of restoring stability to block the return of Daesh again” he said. He was of the view now; the most important challenge is the reconstruction and stabilization efforts for the city through the provision of basic infrastructure to ensure the return of the displaced citizens.
Briefing about the background of battle of Mosul Iraqi ambassador said that the Daesh group occupied the city of Mosul in June 2014.After several days, Daesh announced the establishment of Caliphate and the establishment of (Islamic State) in Mosul assuring the criminal Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a (Caliph).
Daesh began a series of mass executions of hundreds of the people of the city on the pretext of working in and with the security forces of the Government of Iraq or because they are (Shias) or (Yazidis). Daesh deliberately destroyed a large number of archaeological sites in the city such as Al-Hadhar, Nimrud and the tomb of the Prophet Jonah, He said.
Daesh carried out a large number of sexual violence on the Shias and Yazidis women and young girls in Mosul, Tal Afar and Sanjar, burning them to death or selling them as gifts. Nearly Two Million citizens were displaced from Mosul due to the occupation of Daesh on the city, he told. The group began recruiting children over the age of 12 years to join them by calling them (the Birds of Paradise) and forced some of them to kill. Daesh has adopted a policy of spreading fear and terror. Daesh has developed a sophisticated media and communication system through which it could recruit thousands of foreign fighters from more than 100 countries, he said.
He said that Daesh wanted to turn Mosul into training and re-export center of terrorists to various countries of the world as sleeper cells, therefore, they called Mosul (the land of Empowerment). The Operations Command in Mosul was assigned to a professional Iraqi officer, Lieutenant General Abdul Amir Yarallah.
The Joint Operations Command, headed by Lieutenant General Taleb Shaghati, oversaw the conduct of these operations and the daily follow-up by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The objective of the plan was to eliminate the elements of the organization inside Mosul and prevent them from escaping as they represent a serious threat in the future, he told. The International Alliance played a major role in this battle through providing air cover in cooperation with the Iraqi Air Force. The coalition assigned the Iraqi ground forces to a number of military advisors in the field, especially at Al-Qayara base. The first penetration of the city of Mosul was from the East side and the process was running very quickly and successfully, he said.
Published in Daily Times, July 15th , 2017.
