Daesh to be routed in Iraq in near future: UN envoy

The UN envoy for Iraq has expressed optimism over full liberation of Iraq from the Daesh terrorists in the near future, saying the Takfiri group is using civilians as human shields in the embattled city of Mosul to slow down army advances.

According to reports, speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Jan Kubis said "the days of the so-called ISIL (Daesh) are counted.”

Kubis noted that Baghdad’s steady progress in recapturing the eastern part of Mosul “should not conceal that fighting has been and will be a massive challenge, in particular inside the old city in western Mosul.”

There have been “many casualties on both military and civilian sides” he added.

The UN envoy said Daesh terrorists deliberately target the civilians fleeing the areas under their control, shell civilians indiscriminately in recaptured areas, use civilians as human shields and station their terrorists in and near hospitals and schools.

According to the UN official, nearly 190,000 people were displaced during the operations to recapture eastern Mosul, 30,000 of whom have already returned home.

An estimated 885,000 civilians had stayed in areas retaken by the Iraqi forces.

Kubis pointed to the “extreme risk” against the civilians when the planned operation to liberate western Mosul kicks off and said that humanitarian groups are preparing for possible scenarios, including “a possible mass exodus, prolonged siege-like conditions, or a sequenced and managed evacuation by the Iraqi security forces.”

Kubis underlined the need for “substantial and sustainable” international support and assistance for Iraq after Daesh terrorists are pushed out of the country.

“Any abrupt scaling-down of engagement or support would mean repeating mistakes of the past — mistakes that have had grave consequences for stability and security, well beyond the borders of Iraq, even globally," he warned.

Iraq’s Ambassador to the UN Mohamed Alhakim, for his part, said the country’s forces are completing preparations to recapture western Mosul.

The Iraqi government will implement reconstruction projects in the liberated areas and start demining the fields in a move to allow displaced people to return home, he said.

The members of Security Council expressed support for Iraqi forces and called for efforts to minimize civilian casualties and prevent the movement of IS fighters from Mosul to Syria.

The council urged Baghdad to promote national reconciliation and called on the Iraqi government to investigate all rights violations and bring perpetrators to justice.

SS