Volunteer fighters say will join Iraqi army battle for Mosul

Iraqi volunteer forces, known as the Popular Mobilization Units, say they will join an ongoing operation by the Iraqi army to liberate the northern city of Mosul from ISIL Takfiri terrorists.

According to the media reports, Jawad al-Talabawi, a spokesman for the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq volunteer forces, said in an interview on Wednesday that the anti-terrorist military operation in Mosul, the capital of northern Nineveh Province, would require the participation of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).

“We think the battle to liberate Mosul will be huge, complex; it will be about guerrilla warfare in built-up areas, which only PMF fighters are good at ..., as forces may be fighting house to house, room to room,” Talabawi said.

This comes as the Iraqi armed forces have already launched an offensive to recapture the country’s second-largest city of Mosul, which has served as the main ISIL stronghold since 2014.

However, the offensive meant to bring the Iraqi army closer to Mosul has been put on hold two weeks after its launch in March, until more forces arrive to hold ground.

The military operation is the first phase of a large-scale offensive that Baghdad plans to conclude in 2016 with the full recapture of Mosul. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has declared 2016 the year of “final victory” over Takfiri terrorists.

Talabawi further suggested that popular volunteer forces take the lead in Mosul’s liberation operation, saying that the Iraqi army could make effective advancements on the ground only with air cover and heavy bombardment.

SS