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Tens of Thousands of Mosul Residents Flee US-Iraqi Air Strikes to Qa-im, Which is Also Bombarded

April 3, 2017 

Editor's Note:

The coalition which fights the Islamic State and other Sunni groups in Syria consists of US-led NATO forces, Russian forces, Syrian Alewite government forces, Iranian-backed Shi'i militias, and Kurdish peshmerga forces. The coalition's continuous attacks have resulted in the killing of thousands of Iraqi and Syrian Sunni Muslim Arabs and the eviction of millions of them as a result of the destruction of their cities and villages.

The end outcome is going to be the weakening and possible dismantling of Iraqi and Syrian states as well as the eviction (ethnic cleansing of) Sunni Muslim Arabs, particularly from the upper Euphrates region of northwestern Iraq and northeastern Syria. 

The larger context for understanding the Syrian war (and other wars in the Middle East) is that it contributes to the implementation of the Zionist-Israeli plan of destroying the Arab Middle Eastern states in preparation for the establishment of the greater Israeli empire, from the Nile of Egypt to the Euphrates of Iraq.  

For a background, read: 

Zionist Creative Destruction of the Middle East for the Benefit of the Apartheid Israeli Regime

 

Iraqi families flee their homes in western Mosul as a result of the US-Iraqi government air strikes and bombardment, March 18, 2017	Iraqi families flee their homes due to the US-Iraqi government attacks on western Mosul, April 3, 2017

Iraqi army bombardment of western neighborhoods of Mosul, April 3, 2017	Iraqi government air strikes on Western Anbar residential neighborhoods kill civilians, April 3, 2017 yaqein

 

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Iraqi government air strikes and army forces bombard Mosul western neighborhoods, resulting in the killing and injuring of 14 civilians قصف للجيش على عدد من أحياء الجانب الأيمن من الموصل يسفر عن مقتل وإصابة 14 مدنيا تاريخ النشر : الإثنين | 03-04-2017 | 21:15 قتل وأصيب 14 مدنيا ، اليوم الاثنين ، جراء قصف لقوات الجيش بالطائرات والمدفعية على عدد من الاحياء المختلفة في الجانب الغربي من مدينة الموصل مركز محافظة نينوى ضمن العملية الانتقامية التي تشنها قوات الجيش والشرطة وداعميهما من الميليشيات وقوات التحالف الدولي على المدينة واهلها. وقال مصدر صحفي في تصريح له إن "قوات الجيش قصفت بالطائرات والمدفعية أحياء الجديدة والعامل والمامون ورجم الحديد والصناعة القديمة في الساحل الايمن من مدينة الموصل". وأضاف المصدر أن "القصف اسفر عن مقتل امرأة وطفلة وإصابة 12 مدنيا بجروح فضلا عن هدم عدد من المنازل السكنية للمواطنين ". واوضح المصدر انه "تم نقل الجرحى الى احد المستشفيات القريبة لتلقي العلاج فيما تم نقل جثتي القتيلتين الى دائرة الطب العدلي". يقين نت م http://yaqein.net/AR/details11493.htm Iraqi government air strikes on Al-Qa-im neighborhoods, in western Anbar resulting in the killing and injuring of civilians غارات لطائرات الجيش تسفر عن مقتل عدد من المدنيين غربي الأنبار تاريخ النشر : الإثنين | 03-04-2017 | 19:50 شنت طائرات الجيش ، اليوم الاثنين، غارات على منطقة قرب قضاء القائم غربي الأنبار ما اسفر عن مقتل واصابة تسعة مدنيين . وقال مصدر صحفي في تصريح له إن " طائرات الجيش شنت غارات على منطقة جريجم قرب قضاء القائم غربي محافظة الأنبار". وأضاف المصدر أن "الغارات اسفرت عن مقتل خمسة مدنيين واصابة اربعة اخرين بجروح ". واوضح المصدر ان " الجيش استخدم طائرات السي خوي في غاراته على المنطقة ". يقين نت م http://yaqein.net/AR/details11491.htm

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The following are news stories from a pro-Iraqi government website (http://www.iraqinews.com/), which usually reports those who are killed by Iraqi government attacks as Islamic State fighters, implying no civilians were killed by bombing residential neighborhoods:

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10,000 residents flee Mosul to Qaim, western Anbar: Source

by Nehal Mustafa Apr 2, 2017, 11:58 am

Anbar (IraqiNews.com) --

Ten thousand civilians have fled Mosul to the city of Qaim, western Anbar, a local source from the province said on Sunday.

Speaking to Alsumaria News, the source said “2000 families from Mosul fled to Qaim city, located 360KM west of Anbar.”

The number of displaced families, according to the source, who preferred anonymity, “reaches around 10,000 families, most of whom are women and children, from Mosul.”

“The arrival of these families caused overpopulation,” the source added. They are living at houses of the displaced residents of Qaim.”

Qaim was captured by the Islamic State in 2014. Thousands of civilians were besieged by the militants inside the city in order to be used as human shields.

More than 4 million were internally displaced since IS emerged in 2014. According to Iraqi government, more than 200.000 residents fled western Mosul since operations launched in February to retake that area, driving the total of those displaced since October to more than 400.000.

The United Nations previously warned that battles in Mosul could displace at least 400,000 out of 750,000 living in western Mosul, and said in 2016 that the offensive to retake the city could force at least 1.5 million people to flee homes in the city. 

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U.N. Secretary General calls for more aid as people flee Mosul

by Mohamed Mostafa, Iraqi News, Mar 31, 2017, 12:18 pm

Hassan Sham Camp (Reuters)--

 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday called on the international community to increase aid to help people fleeing the Iraqi city of Mosul which government forces have been battling to retake from Islamic State.

Iraqi forces have seized back most of the country’s second-largest city from the Sunni hardline group in a massive six-month campaign.

But at least 355,000 residents have fled fighting, according to the government, and some 400,000 civilians remain trapped inside the densely-populated Old City where street battles have raged for weeks.

“We don’t have the resources necessary to support these people,” Guterres told reporters during a visit to the Hassan Sham Camp, one of several centres outside Mosul packed with civilians escaping the fighting.

The U.N. and Iraqi authorities have been building more camps but struggle to accommodate new arrivals with two families sometimes having to share one tent.

“Unfortunately our program is only 8 percent funded,” he said, referring to a 2017 U.N. humanitarian response program without giving additional details.

During his visit, which lasted about half an hour, residents complained to Guterres about the quality of drinking water and poor living conditions in tents frequented by mice and insects.

“We want to go back to our villages. We are fed up,” said Saqr Younis, who fled to Mosul when Islamic State arrived in his village in 2014.

“If we had died by bombardment it would have been more merciful,” said Saqr who has been in the camp for four months.

Many of the displaced have returned to their homes in areas retaken from Islamic State but some, like Saqr, have not yet been allowed to return by the authorities.

The Sunni group overran about a third of Iraq in 2014, benefiting from the Sunni-Shi’ite rift that weakened the army.

Iraqi forces have won back control of most cities that fell to the group and the militants have been dislodged from nearly three quarters of Mosul but remain in control of its centre.

Government positions have reached as close as 500 metres to the al-Nuri Mosque, from where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate spanning parts of Iraq and Syria in July 2014.

Baghdadi and other IS leaders are believed to have left the city but U.S. officials estimate around 2,000 fighters remain inside the city, resisting with snipers hiding among the population, car bombs and suicide trucks targeting Iraqi positions.

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Death around corner for civilians living on Mosul’s frontline

by Nehal Mustafa Apr 3, 2017, 2:30 pm

Iraqi News, Mosul (Reuters) --

Sitting in a wheelchair and wearing sunglasses, pensioner Abdelraziq Abdelkarim enjoys the afternoon sun outside his house in Mosul after a day of rain. He does not flinch when a mortar opens fire just around the corner.

His home is on the busiest frontline in the northern Iraqi city just 200 m (yards) from Islamic State positions. Outside his house, Federal Police units are firing at the militants.

Government forces have been evacuating civilians as they fight to seize Mosul, once the hardline Sunni militant group’s main urban stronghold in Iraq and now the scene of a six-month-old battle.

But some families refuse to go, shrugging off the danger of a mortar fired two blocks away or a counter-attack from the militants who move around at night. Gunfire rings out constantly between Federal Police and militants holed up in abandoned shops and apartments.

“I don’t want to go. I’ve lived all my life in this house,” said 72-year Abdelkarim, a former studio photographer, sitting next to his handicapped son and a grandchild.

They share a two-floor house in a narrow street with five people from two other families. Military Humvees and mortar launchers are just parked outside.

Almost 300,000 people have fled Mosul since the government offensive to recapture the city began in October, according to the United Nations.

But Abdelkarim and his friends dread going to one of the crowded camps where aid agencies sometimes place two families in one tent for lack of space. Others stay with relatives in cramped homes.

They had stocked up food, water and petrol for a power generator when the military campaign began. There is no food store at the frontline but soldiers sometimes share rations or a family member goes to one of the food distribution centers set up by the military, they say.

“We are maybe three or four families left. The rest are gone,” said Abdullah Ahmed, a 42-year old engineer staying with Abdelkarim. “Right across out door 50 people stayed in one house but they’ve fled.”

DEATH AROUND CORNER

Their short alley shows the military’s challenges in dislodging Islamic State fighters hiding in the Old City — navigating is difficult in the labyrinth of narrow, often covered alleys offering perfect hideouts for snipers or to stage ambushes.

U.S. officials estimated about 2,000 fighters were still in Mosul in February at the start of the second phase of the campaign, to dislodge them from western sector.

Iraqi forces have been edging closer to al-Nuri Mosque — some 300 meters away — where Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a caliphate nearly three years ago across territory controlled by the group in both Iraq and Syria.

But the front has hardly moved in past two weeks as Humvees or tanks are of no use in the Old City.

“See our street is about one-and-half meters wide,” said Ahmed, whose TV satellite shop was closed by Islamic State as watching TV channels was banned under its austere version of Sunni Islam.

“Near the mosque the streets only half as wide as this. There are some 40 to 50 small houses clustered around it,” he said, pointing in the direction of the mosque. “It’s very difficult to move there.”

When Federal Police opened fire with a machine gun perched on the top floor of a house through a hole broken into a wall, Islamic State fired back within two minutes with accuracy.

“There are snipers here,” a federal policeman said.

There is another reason why the friends want to avoid going to camps. IS fighters seized the husband of one of their sisters two before the government forces arrived.

“I fear they killed him because he was a policeman,” said his 30-year-old wife Dhikrayat Muwafiq, weeping in the kitchen where she was preparing rice and beans.

“I don’t want to go until we know where he is. I need to stay,” she said.

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The following are news stories from the US Department of Defense website (http://www.defense.gov/News) :

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U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIS

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 2, 2017 —

U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday’s strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted nine strikes consisting of 31 engagements against ISIS targets: -- Near Raqqa, five strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight barges and five fighting positions; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Palmyra, two strikes destroyed three ISIS command-and-control nodes, three supply caches, a checkpoint and a bunker; and damaged three bunkers.

-- Near Tabqah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 45 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government: -- Near Kirkuk, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Mosul, six strikes engaged seven ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed three rocket-propelled-grenade systems, three fighting positions, a heavy machine gun, an artillery system, a weapons factory and a vehicle-borne-bomb factory; damaged seven supply routes and five fighting positions; and suppressed 12 ISIS mortar teams, four ISIS tactical units and an ISIS sniper team.

Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, April 1, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed three ISIS wellheads.
-- Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a weapons storage facility and a vehicle-borne bomb; and damaged a bridge.
-- Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed two ISIS-held buildings and a bunker entrance and damaged two bunker entrances and an ISIS-held building.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted five strikes consisting of 45 engagements against ISIS targets in Mosul, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government.

The strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units and an ISIS staging area; destroyed two fighting positions, a vehicle-borne bomb, a sniper weapon system and a rocket-propelled grenade system; damaged three supply routes and a fighting position; and suppressed 12 ISIS mortar teams, four ISIS tactical units, two ISIS heavy-machine-gun teams and an ISIS sniper team.

Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 31, 2017 — U

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 10 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, four strikes destroyed eight ISIS wellheads and a pumpjack.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed nine ISIS wellheads.

-- Near Raqqa, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a front-end loader.

-- Near Taqbah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a unmanned aerial vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted eight strikes consisting of 56 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed 18 vehicles, three vehicle-borne-bomb factories, two tunnels, an artillery system, a vehicle-borne bomb, a mortar system, a tactical vehicle, a fighting position and a front-end loader; damaged 12 supply routes; and suppressed six ISIS mortar teams and an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Rawah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building and a tactical vehicle.

Coalition Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 29, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 22 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS oil inlet manifold.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, seven strikes destroyed nine ISIS wellheads, a pump jack and a barge.

-- Near Raqqah, a strike destroyed an ISIS pump jack.

-- Near Shadaddi, a strike destroyed an ISIS tactical vehicle.

-- Near Tabqah, 12 strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed seven fighting positions, four oil tanker trucks, two front-end loaders, a mortar system and a vehicle; and damaged a supply route.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted six strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Haditha, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

• Near Mosul, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units; destroyed a mortar system, a vehicle, a rocket-propelled grenade system and an artillery system; damaged 17 supply routes and a roadblock; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units.

Military Strikes Continue Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 28, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 20 strikes consisting of 32 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed two ISIS well heads.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, four strikes destroyed 15 ISIS barges and three wellheads.

-- Near Raqqa, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed eight barges, a vehicle, a front-end loader and a truck and trailer.

-- Near Shadaddi, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed three tactical vehicles, three vehicles, two bulldozers, two front-end loaders, a vehicle-borne bomb and a tank.

-- Near Tabqah, five strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a front-end loader and a vehicle.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted 10 strikes consisting of 40 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Beiji, a strike destroyed an ISIS vehicle-borne bomb.

-- Near Kisik, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two weapons caches and a vehicle.

-- Near Mosul, six strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six fighting positions, three mortar systems, two vehicle-borne bombs, a tactical vehicle, an artillery system, a vehicle-borne bomb facility and a vehicle; damaged 11 supply routes; and suppressed four ISIS tactical units and two ISIS mortar teams.

-- Near Rawah, a strike destroyed an ISIS front-end loader.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed an ISIS unmanned aerial vehicle.

Counter-ISIS Strikes Continue in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 27, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted 19 strikes consisting of 20 engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, a strike destroyed a wellhead.

-- Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed a tank.

-- Near Raqqa, nine strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit; destroyed a wellhead, a heavy transport equipment piece, a vehicle, an oil storage tank, an ISIS headquarters, a vehicle-borne bomb and a fighting position; and damaged two supply routes.

-- Near Tabqah, seven strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units; destroyed two vehicles, a fighting position and a front-end loader; and damaged two supply routes.

Strikes in Iraq

In Iraq, coalition military forces conducted seven strikes consisting of 67 engagements against ISIS targets, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Beiji, a strike destroyed a tactical vehicle.

-- Near Mosul, seven strikes engaged four ISIS tactical units; destroyed six tunnels, three fighting positions, three vehicles, two mortar systems, a weapons storage facility, a front-end loader, a supply cache and a heavy machine gun; damaged 17 supply routes; and suppressed six ISIS mortar teams and three ISIS tactical units.

-- Near Qaim, a strike suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.

-- Near Qayyarah, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a watercraft.

-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed a unmanned aerial vehicle, a UAV facility and a vehicle.

-- Near Sinjar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a tactical vehicle and a vehicle.

-- Near Tal Afar, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a weapons cache, an explosives cache, a storage facility and an improvised weapons facility.

Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 26, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

Coalition military forces conducted 18 strikes consisting of 38 engagements against ISIS targets in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, two strikes destroyed 35 oil barrels, six oil refinement stills, and a well head.

-- Near Dayr Az Zawr, three strikes damaged a pump jack and destroyed two pump jacks and an oil rig.

-- Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged three ISIS tactical units, damaged a supply route, and destroyed a fighting position, a tactical vehicle and a mortar system.

-- Near Tabqah, nine strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units, damaged a supply route, and destroyed nine fighting positions, an improvised weapons facility and a weapons factory.

Strikes in Iraq

Coalition military forces conducted 12 strikes consisting of 55 engagements in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Beiji, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building.

-- Near Kirkuk, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units and destroyed an ISIS-held building.

-- Near Mosul, five strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; damaged 11 supply routes and a fighting position; suppressed two ISIS tactical units; and destroyed seven fighting positions, four mortar positions, two tactical vehicles, a supply cache and a sniper weapon system.

-- Near Qaim, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle.

-- Near Rawah, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed an ISIS-held building and an ISIS headquarters.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike destroyed an ISIS-held building.

U.S., Coalition Continue Strikes Against ISIS in Syria, Iraq

SOUTHWEST ASIA, March 25, 2017 —

Strikes in Syria

Coalition forces conducted eight strikes consisting of nine engagements against ISIS targets in Syria:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS-held building.

-- Near Raqqa, four strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, damaged a supply route, and destroyed two fighting positions, two vehicles and a weapons storage facility.

-- Near Tabqah, three strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit, destroyed a fighting position and damaged a supply route.

Strikes in Iraq

Coalition forces conducted six strikes consisting of 46 engagements against ISIS targets in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of the Iraqi government:

-- Near Mosul, fives strikes engaged five ISIS tactical units; destroyed six mortar systems, five fighting positions, a vehicle, a supply cache, a command and control node, a sniper position, and a vehicle bomb; damaged seven supply routes and three fighting positions; and suppressed three ISIS tactical units and an ISIS heavy machine gun team.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed four weapons caches, two tunnels systems, two explosives storage facilities, an explosives cache, and a mortar system.

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