Iraqi air force drops leaflets over Mosul, ground operation imminent - Polidicks

[t]http://i.imgur.com/mKzXCkW.jpg[/t] [url]http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/16/middleeast/mosul-isis-battle-preparations/[/url] [quote]A long-awaited operation to seize the key Iraqi city of Mosul after two years of ISIS control is imminent, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced Sunday. "We have been battling ISIS for more than two years," Abadi said during a televised meeting with journalists and political analysts. "We started fighting ISIS in the outskirts of Baghdad, and thank God we are now fighting them in the outskirts of Mosul, and God willing the decisive battle will be soon." The announcement came hours after Iraqi forces dropped leaflets over Mosul, telling residents not to panic and to seal their doors and windows. "We promise you that victory is near and that it will be a great victory fitting with the greatness of Iraq and its history and its people," Ahmed al-Assadi, a lawmaker and spokesman for the Popular Mobilization Units, or PMUs, which include dozens of militias fighting together, said earlier. Witnesses on Sunday said airstrikes had taken out one of the city's main bridges, the latest move as forces warm up for the much-anticipated offensive on Mosul, a key city in the ISIS network and the militant group's last bastion of power in Iraq.[/quote]

those are some up-armored humvees

Good to hear the Iraqi army is really taking on a good form that can hopefully allow it to defeat ISIS and to also maintain security in a post IS era. I remember hearing the stories of how some of the Iraqi military units pretty much evaporated at the first hint of an encounter with IS, now the stories are ones of their military making the Islamic State forces disappear at the first sign of a military encounter with the Iraqi military.

Earlier today the Coalition irstrike had destroyed the Mosul Freedom Bridge, the last bridge that was connecting both parts of the city split by Tigris river. [media]https://twitter.com/DannyNis/status/787557901506338817[/media]

[QUOTE=CroGamer002;51212923]Earlier today the Coalition irstrike had destroyed the Mosul Freedom Bridge, the last bridge that was connecting both parts of the city split by Tigris river. [media]https://twitter.com/DannyNis/status/787557901506338817[/media][/QUOTE] So if I'm to understand they are using a siege tactic right? Starving em out?

[QUOTE=Daddy-of-war;51212930]So if I'm to understand they are using a siege tactic right? Starving em out?[/QUOTE] more like divide and conquer

[QUOTE=Pelf;51212947]more like divide and conquer[/QUOTE] Ah, gotcha. Good to see them taking the fight to them.

Eat shit ISIS and get fucked

[QUOTE=Daddy-of-war;51212930]So if I'm to understand they are using a siege tactic right? Starving em out?[/QUOTE] Nope, divide and conquer. Mosul will be attacked from all sides. Destroying the bridges makes sure ISIS defenders can't redeploy troops on all sides of the city when needed. Cutting off both parts of the city from each other will be a great for attackers. Also another thing, Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan had build large refugee camps, expecting 100's of thousands of refugees to flee Mosul. [media]https://twitter.com/lutfiabuaun/status/787560544286994432[/media]

It's started [media]https://twitter.com/BBCBreaking/status/787787010954190849[/media]

[QUOTE=Sableye;51212921]those are some up-armored humvees[/QUOTE] That's because the Humvee was designed as a utility vehicle that has been increasingly misused as a combat vehicle. The original role for the Humvee was for utility or transportation, but starting with the Gulf War they've been "misused" heavily as patrol vehicles and armored cars. To rectify their lack of armor, several armor kits were designed to be bolted onto Humvees to increase their protection. Even then, they're still much less protected than purpose-built combat vehicles, especially MRAP's which were designed from the ground up to 'deflect' anti-tank landmine explosions.

This is it. The D-Day of 2016.

Seems the whole party is ending for ISIS. They're losing on all fronts now. Good

I would not say they are losing THAT much in Syria, although the era of their expansion is long over. If this battle goes well, ISIS in Iraq is done.

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ekrjzUh.png[/IMG] So I made this to show what's going no at this moment. Syrian rebels also continue to advance against ISIS after yesterday's victory in Sawran and Dabiq, by taking villages [URL="https://twitter.com/fevziincii/status/787996365024624640"]Baruze[/URL] and [URL="https://twitter.com/NewsHunting1/status/787997879801679872"]Guzhe[/URL].

Would be pretty terrifying to see what type of shit ISIS have gotten up to in Mosul. Medieval tier torture devices or whatever, I wouldn't be surprised.

Pretty sure Iraqi army is more concerned about whatever nasty surprises ISIS had put in store for them. Mosul is suspected to be an IED, booby traps and minefield hell. Along with many SVBIED and other suicide bombers, that would be far more effective within the city due to urban environment.

I got a live link from a Kurd TV network on the Peshmerga, here: [url]https://youtu.be/BcYxVjQSCMY[/url] Combat HAS started,gunfire is being heard.I saw a VBIED blowing up.ISIS have started using VBIED's

From 25,000 to 80,000 troops are taking part of Mosul offensive. [media]https://twitter.com/comandoaereo94/status/788033936500809728[/media] Reason for wide gap in number difference is due to no confirmation from Iraqi nor Iraqi Kurdistan government on how many troops are taking part of offensive( military secret) as well unknown how many will take part of offensive, are in reserve, are rear guard in case of ISIS attempted counter-attacks to cause chaos in Mosul offensive and etc. Day 1 advances: [media]https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/788034755296100353[/media]

A Kurdish News Station is still broadcasting some movements behind the frontlines of the operation [video=youtube;BcYxVjQSCMY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcYxVjQSCMY[/video] Some M-ATVs named after Disney Princesses were spotted [t]http://i.imgur.com/6r3ikZx.jpg[/t][t]http://i.imgur.com/wZP0AA8.jpg[/t]

Hold on, it's daylight on that live stream video. It's 10pm right now in Iraq. There is no way that's a live footage.

[QUOTE=CroGamer002;51217454]Hold on, it's daylight on that live stream video. It's 10pm right now in Iraq. There is no way that's a live footage.[/QUOTE] It's mostly unedited B-roll that they've shot earlier today

[QUOTE=CroGamer002;51217454]Hold on, it's daylight on that live stream video. It's 10pm right now in Iraq. There is no way that's a live footage.[/QUOTE] Probably delayed footage, in case some IS twat is sitting there watching

[QUOTE=CroGamer002;51215943][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ekrjzUh.png[/IMG][/QUOTE] The thing i'm thinking watching this picture, they are going to cut off Qaryat al Ashiq, right? Or that will be a valid escape route. Seems strange seeing as they are moving from every other direction.

[QUOTE=CroGamer002;51215943][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/ekrjzUh.png[/IMG] So I made this to show what's going no at this moment. Syrian rebels also continue to advance against ISIS after yesterday's victory in Sawran and Dabiq, by taking villages [URL="https://twitter.com/fevziincii/status/787996365024624640"]Baruze[/URL] and [URL="https://twitter.com/NewsHunting1/status/787997879801679872"]Guzhe[/URL].[/QUOTE] Five entire divisions, Jesus. As if that weren't enough to drive home that this is a balls-out, full-scale conventional war.

[QUOTE=RB33;51217605]The thing i'm thinking watching this picture, they are going to cut off Qaryat al Ashiq, right? Or that will be a valid escape route. Seems strange seeing as they are moving from every other direction.[/QUOTE] They will probably allow many ISIS fighters to flee Mosul. They did that in battle of Fallujah and had killed over a 1000 fleeing ISIS fighters with airstrikes. Without escape route, they'd fight til death in a nightmare urban warfare where airstrikes would be pretty limited in effectiveness. Also, something messed up. ISIS fighter blows himself up with a grenade, Iraqi soldiers narrowly escape and survive. [media]https://twitter.com/lummideast/status/788123877218058241[/media]

Bloody hell.Thank god those soldiers survived.

[QUOTE=Psychokitten;51218154]Five entire divisions, Jesus. As if that weren't enough to drive home that this is a balls-out, full-scale conventional war.[/QUOTE] According to Wiki, these are the numbers of the Coalition forces: Iraqi Security Forces: 20,000–25,000 soldiers Peshmerga: 10,000 soldiers Nineveh Plain Protection Units: 600 fighters US: 200 Marines( tactical support only) and 500 military advisors ISIS forces: In Mosul city - 7,000-10,000 militants In Mosul suburbs, other towns and villages - around 5,000 militants Total - 12,000-15,000 ISIS had prepared for this. They are throwing SVBIED's and suicide bombers everywhere they can to slow down the offensive. It is certain they will soon launch a counter attack to cause chaos and casualties in the Coalition forces. How effective will it be, is hard to say. ISF and Peshmerga had prepared for this for months, experienced it all for years. But ISIS is suborn and unpredictable as always. And the real fight will be in Mosul city itself. All of this so far is just a warm up. I don't remember when was the last time a massive pitch battle over a city with more then 1 million people living( 2 million actually in Mosul). I thought of Grozny, but that city has quarter of million of population. So, shit, did it happened last time in WW2 with battle of Berlin? Also I decided to update: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/zb1TKb2.png[/IMG] Note I do not known what exact division is fighting where or at what strength. I am vaguely speculating on footage provided to public. I would love to add fully accurate information.

[video=youtube;KCRt16IJ9qM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCRt16IJ9qM[/video] Many of the ISIS fighters have suicide explosive belts and are fighting to the death

I will never understand the dynamics of fighting in the desert. How the hell do you even hold a line with so much sand? I mean, I would think that the frontlines are defined mostly by roads. If you extend yourself too far away from a road, how can you resupply or advance with coordination? Furthermore, if there is no height difference, how can they hold a position? It's just firepower vs firepower? Oh crap, so the ISIS guys have built tunnels (CNN video)? Now that's nasty as fuck. Wouldn't like to advance some couple of hundred meters to have a lunatic pop up from behind and blow up the whole squad.