Fars News, an outlet affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (I.R.G.C.), has published an interview with the spokesperson of the Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Force), on the question of the military campaign to free the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State. Ahmad al-Assadi, the spokesperson of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi paramilitary organization, claimed in the interview that the next phase of operations to liberate west of Mosul from the Islamic State is underway.
Assadi urged resident in the western part of the city to “support the volunteer fighters, cooperate with them and facilitate their work.” Assadi claimed that the key objective of this phase of the military campaign around Mosul is to “control the airport in Tal Afar in a bid to pave the way for storming the city’s center and liberate the entire town.”
While Assadi publicized the Hashd al-Shaabi’s military capabilities, including what he called its supreme abilities in urban warfare, it is the Iranian state-run media that has in recent days intensified efforts to broadcast the claims of the Iraqi militia organization. Meanwhile, the liberation of Mosul, which many had predicted would have been secured long ago, remains still only a goal to be achieved.
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is an independent, non-partisan, non-for-profit, educational organization. It does not engage in advocacy and its scholars’ opinions are their own. MEI welcomes financial donations, but retains sole editorial control over its work and its publications reflect only the authors’ views. For a listing of MEI donors, please click here.