Iraqi Security Forces close to Mosul

Iraqi Security Forces are close to the Mosul city limits after clearing the surrounding smaller cities. It is expected it will take several months to completely rid Mosul of ISIS. The Iraqi prime minister urged Islamic State fighters to surrender as Iraqi Security Forces reached within one kilometer of Mosul.

Haider al-Abadi appeared on state TV wearing combat fatigues and said: “They have no choice. Either they surrender or they die.”

Using another name for IS, Mr al-Abadi said: “We will close in on Daesh from all angles and God willing we will cut the snake’s head. They will have no way out and no way to escape.”

Mr al-Abadi is the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces.—BBC

Advertisement

Many of the remaining ISIS fighters have fortified their fighting positions by going underground. You can read more about the ISIS tunnel systems, here.

Editorial cartoon courtesy of Robert L. Lang