ASSESSMENTS

A Deadly Urban Battlefield in Mosul

Dec 9, 2016 | 09:00 GMT

More than 50 days into the campaign to retake Mosul from the Islamic State, the Iraqi army is embroiled in difficult and bloody urban fighting.

(ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Summary

The battle for Mosul is far from over. In the campaign's first weeks, the Iraqi army and its allies made quick progress toward the city, slowed only by a plethora of improvised explosive devices and stiff resistance from Islamic State forces hunkered down in village strongpoints. But more than 50 days in, the coalition's best-laid plans have changed, and the Iraqi army is embroiled in a bloody and difficult urban fight.

The battle for Mosul is far from over. In the campaign's first weeks, the Iraqi army and its allies made quick progress toward the city, slowed only by a plethora of improvised explosive devices and stiff resistance from Islamic State forces hunkered down in village strong points. But more than 50 days in, the coalition's best-laid plans have changed, and the Iraqi army is embroiled in bloody and difficult urban fighting....

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