Thousands of Christians Celebrate Liberation of Qaraqosh Near Mosul

According to Iraqi military sources, the Christian-populated town of Qaraqosh near Mosul was liberated from the occupation of “Islamic State” forces on the second day of Mosul’s liberation operation. According to the Pentagon, ISIS uses civilians in Mosul as human shields.

On Tuesday (October 18), the Iraqi army successfully entered the town of Qaraqosh in the southeastern outskirts of Mosul without military confrontation. Iraqi military officials say that as the army advanced, ISIS forces abandoned this Christian-populated area. In other areas, ISIS has mounted scattered resistance.

Thousands of Christian refugees currently sheltering in the city of Erbil took to the streets on Tuesday evening to celebrate the liberation of Qaraqosh.

Qaraqosh was once the largest Christian-populated area in Iraq. Since ISIS forces captured the city two years ago, tens of thousands of Christians have fled the region.

Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq’s Foreign Minister, called on the international community to support the country in its fight against ISIS. During a meeting with Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief, Jaafari said: “Iraq is currently in a difficult financial situation.” The two met in Brussels on Tuesday.

According to Jaafari, Iraq welcomes financial assistance or any other kind of support from European countries. Jaafari added: “The success of the recent military operations of Iraqi forces will have a positive impact on Iraq’s security and the security of other countries in the world.”

ISIS Use of Human Shields

According to assessments by Iraqi officials, more than 700,000 people currently live in Mosul. ISIS militants in the city are estimated to number around 5,000.

A U.S. Department of Defense spokesman, coinciding with the coalition forces’ advance around Mosul, said: The terrorist group ISIS, known as the “Islamic State,” “absolutely uses civilians in this city as human shields.”

In phone conversations with Reuters news agency, some residents of Mosul have said that ISIS prevents people from leaving the city. According to some media reports, ISIS has forced some residents to stay in buildings that are likely to be targeted by coalition airstrikes.

Humanitarian organizations have also prepared themselves to assist thousands of potential displaced persons near Mosul.

Putin’s Support for the Iraqi Government

Mosul is considered the last major stronghold of the “Islamic State” (ISIS) in Iraq. A coalition of the Iraqi army, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, Shiite and Sunni militias launched a major offensive to liberate the city starting Monday. The United States supports this coalition.

John Dorrian, spokesman for U.S. military forces in Iraq, announced in a tweet that the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga have achieved their objectives ahead of the operational timeline. More than 100 American soldiers are directly participating in Iraqi army operational units in the fight against ISIS. The U.S. also supports coalition forces through airstrikes.

ISIS’s defeat in Mosul is assessed as the group’s defeat throughout Iraq. Haider al-Abadi had a phone call with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, on Tuesday. According to Iraqi sources, Putin emphasized that he supports the Iraqi government in its war against terrorists.

Plans for Mosul’s Reconstruction

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s Foreign Minister, announced that his country is ready to help Iraq after the liberation of Mosul. In an interview with the newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine,” Steinmeier said: “We don’t know how long the liberation operation in Mosul will take, but what is important is that we have a plan for this city after liberation from now on.”

Steinmeier emphasized that after Mosul’s liberation, immediate measures must be implemented to build trust among the people and allow displaced persons to return to their former settlements. He added: “We must present a clear vision for the people’s lives and the city’s reconstruction.”

On Friday (October 20), more than 20 countries and international organizations will gather in Paris to discuss the situation in Mosul and future assistance to the city.

Source: DW