Mosul: Iraqi special forces 'already inside' battleground city held by Islamic State

Updated

As the Iraqi army makes its final push to retake Mosul from Islamic State (IS), a small group of special forces are already in the city operating as a secret unit, undermining the militants and sending out vital intelligence to coalition forces.

Key points: Iraq's army says its special forces are in Mosul

Commandos are calling in air strikes and gathering intelligence

Iraq's army says local resistance is rising up

Speaking about the elite resistance unit for the first time, Sergeant Major Mshaal Al Shimary of the Iraq Special Operations Force (ISOF) said that in many instances the small band was calling in air strikes in and around Mosul to assassinate IS operatives.

"We are coordinating with them, they provide us with coordinates for IS positions to be bombed by the air forces and they kill IS members inside Mosul," he told 7.30.

"Yesterday we had one killed at 3:00am in west Mosul."

It is dangerous and difficult work, but Iraq's military believes it is making a difference.

"We know everything now — IS, they have nothing," another officer, Sergeant Major Maythum, told the ABC.

Islamic State not as strong as claimed, spies say

The groundwork being done by the special forces group is essential for the Iraqi troops who are slowly closing in on Mosul.

"The special operation is this — we clear all the buildings inside Mosul, we protect the Iraqi army," Sgt Major Maythum said.

"(The army) clears all the roads. Our (special forces') job inside Mosul is to clear all the buildings."

IS has declared it is prepared for the looming battle, but Iraq's army spies say the extremists are not as strong as they claim to be.

"They talk about the bombs, the car bombs, and maybe some terrorists have AK-47s and RPGs [rocket propelled grenades], but not too many," Sgt Maj Maythum said.

"All the leaders are in Syria."

'After liberation they will control the area'

The resistance inside Mosul is named after an ancient prophet whose shrine in the city was destroyed by IS when it established its puritanical rule there.

The demolition angered many locals and bolstered support for the resistance.

"The resistance is rising up from Mosul's citizens, and they rose up when they heard that ISOF were heading to Mosul. They rose up to destroy Daesh (Islamic State) and unsettle them to facilitate our mission in entering Mosul and kill Daesh or arrest them," Sgt Maj Maythum said.

When Mosul falls it will be the resistance that will be essential in holding the city.

"After the liberation they will control the area," Sgt Maj Shimary predicts.

"Currently we are defusing IEDs [improvised explosive devices] on our way to Mosul.

"And we have our people inside Mosul, and God willing, Mosul will come back to our country."

Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, world-politics, terrorism, iraq

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