Saturday, March 25, 2017

Closing the Barn Doors After the Horse Is Gone

Iraqi government forces have halted the ongoing offensive to recapture western Mosul from the Islamic State militants due high rate of civilian casualties, according to a security forces spokesman.

[...]

The US-backed offensive to drive IS terrorists out of Mosul was launched little over 5 months ago, and the Iraqi army backed by the coalition airstrikes has been able to recapture most of the city.

[...]

The United Nations on Saturday expressed concern over the high number of civilian casualties in Mosul.

[...]

“The recent high death toll among civilians inside the Old City forced us to halt operations to review our plans. It's a time for weighing new offensive plans and tactics. No combat operations are to go on,” an Iraqi Federal Police spokesman said, as cited by Reuters.
  RT
If not for the continuous photojournalism and reports, particularly this last one of more than 100 200 sheltering people killed and children crying under buildings reduced to rubble with no help arriving, I feel pretty sure they wouldn't even be doing it now.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

UPDATE 3/27:
The US military is deploying an additional 200 troops to Mosul to “advise and assist” Iraqi forces in their bid to retake the city, according to ABC, citing defense officials.

  RT

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