Mosul Liberated from ISIS by Iraqi Troops With Support of US Troops and Other Coalition Aid

I Question The Timing.

Trump praised the victory in the former ISIS stronghold.

President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the "victory" of Iraqi forces over the Islamic State group in the northern city of Mosul.

The retaking of the devastated city after nearly nine months of fighting signals the jihadist group's "days in Iraq and Syria are numbered," Trump said in a statement, praising Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Mosul was not just strategically and financially important to ISIS, but symbolically -- al-Baghdadi declared the IS Caliphate while in Mosul in 2011.

The Daily Star claims that it is "confirmed" that al-Baghdadi was killed in previous airstrikes (by RUSSIA!!!), and that a new "caliph" is being chosen. They claim ISIS itself confirms his death.

Al Sumaria TV channel reported terrorists have admitted their leader was killed in air strikes in the Iraqi province of Nineveh.

And now the respected Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had "confirmed information" that Al-Baghdadi has been killed.

His death will come as a damaging blow to ailing ISIS, who are being forced back in de-facto capital Raqqa and have been defeated in Mosul.

Various reports have previously said the jihadi boss was dead, however this is the first time ISIS has confirmed the news.

There are still holdouts in the city, now being hunted down:

Sporadic clashes have continued in the city of Mosul, despite the Iraqi government's declaration of victory against so-called Islamic State there. The US-led coalition supporting Iraqi forces said they were rooting out a "handful" of militants in the Old City.

This New York Times article -- click at peril to your immortal soul, but it has good pictures- - documents the massive destruction ISIS left behind, like a storm of murderous locusts. Much (but not all) of the city appears to be mostly rubble now -- looks like it will have to be rebuilt virtually from scratch. Even the buildings that are (partly) standing, well, I can't imagine just putting up a new fascade and saying "I'm sure that this thing will stand on its own and won't suddenly collapse and kill 40 families."

Scan down for a picture of a demolished church, and a pink, kitty-cat child's backpack containing C4 explosives.

Nice guys!

The BBC (link before the prior one) notes:

The UN says that of the 54 residential districts in the western half of Mosul - where the Old City is located - 15 are heavily damaged and 23 moderately damaged.

I enjoyed this -- "Half-Naked ISIS 'Fanatic' Captured and Paraded Out In Front of Crowds." Half-naked is a bit misleading; he's merely shirtless.

Still, it's gratifying.

The half-naked ISIS fanatic already has offers in to speak at 2020's DNC just before Linda Sarsour, and also is being courted to host an MSNBC weekend show.

posted by Ace at 05:17 PM

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