Longer, Bloodier Fight for Mosul as ISIS Adopt Horrific New Tactics

Dozens of people arrived in a mosque to offer condolences to the family of Brigadier Hamid Birmous.

Brigadier Hamid Birmous was recently killed in action during the Iraqi Securty Forces attempt to retake the city of Mosul.

“I would need days to talk about his life. He was a hero,” said by Iraqi Sergeant Hermen Idress, the dead brigadier’s nephew.

Idriss has been fighting ISIS for a long time and said the bomb that killed his uncle was a kind he hadn’t seen before.

The Iraqi security forces supported by different branches including advisors from the U.S. led coalition have been preparing months for this offensive.

Iraqi Prime Minister and U.S. officials said that operations are on track. However earlier this week, some Iraqi officials told National Public Radio (NPR) that operations would take weeks. But after the recent chaotic battle, Idriss disagrees.

“They are fighting a tough fight, and that means it will take longer,” he added.

In recent weeks, ISIS has been delaying the advancing Iraqi forces, by sending dozens of trucks, car bombs and suicide bombers, planting network of mines, setting mortars and snipers.

Over the past years, Iraqi security forces have known where ISIS Fighters are located and also have intelligence about what they have been planning.

Nevertheless, Iraqi commander Jamal al Amenki says they weren’t expecting attacks on this magnitude.

“We knew all their tactics. We knew that when we started to attack them, they would also fight us — and we knew where they were.”

Mosul honeycombed by booby traps and tunnels

He believes that during the past two years, the front line had barely moved which gave ISIS extremist plenty of time to build tunnels, bombs, and booby traps, laying them at night.

ISIS does not directly engage the advancing forces. Their strategy is to delay the attackers then slowly exterminate them using traps and suicide bombers.

No one knows the exact number of casualties, but soldiers speaking unofficially and anonymously says dozens have died this week.

Mosul, home to over 2.5 million people is also the birth-place of the ISIS caliphate. Hence, it is the most important city for the extremist group.

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Singapore Defense Chief Warns of Threats From Extremist Groups

Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Friday that violent extremist groups represents a grave threat to Southeast Asia. Moreover, he believed that these groups are growing each year, becoming more organized and focusing on their objectives.

Ng gave his statement during the meeting of Southeast Asian defense ministers in Hawaii. US Defense Secretary Ash Carter was also present in the meeting. Ministers dedicated a lot of time discussing threats from Islamic State and similar groups.

According to Ng, over 1,000 Southeast Asians assembled to join the Islamic State’s self-declared “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria. He also said, “Every year we meet, the situation and threat from extremist terrorism rises. Ng added, “Compared to, say, a year or even two years ago, they’re more organized…they’re more networked, they’re more clear in their articulation of what they want to achieve.”

A statement from security officials in June said Southeast Asian militants claimed to fight for Islamic State. These militants have chosen an individual from within the region to lead the group. The Philippines considers this regional faction head as one of their most wanted terrorists.

Jakarta bombing

Since the bombing last January in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, regional authorities reinforced heightened security. The Islamic State claimed the attack which killed eight people including for attackers.

Ng mentioned of a foiled plan concocted by an Indonesian faction to strike at hotels in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. The Indonesian militants maintained coordination with an Islamic State member in Syria. However, It was averted with the help of Indonesian authorities. Ng said, “They have gone beyond networks to push the flow of funds, weapons. They are already plotting”.

Dreaded homecoming

Hundreds of citizens from Southeast Asia joined the Islamic State in their battles in Iraq and Syria. US Defense officials believed they have returned home, raising concerns to launch a rash of attacks.

The US is currently conducting an air campaign to displace the Islamic State from Iraq and Syria. Ng believed destroying its base would lead to a short term increase of regional attacks. Subsequently, seasoned Islamic State fighters would likely return home.

Ng said, “They would decide to come back, some re-energized, some trained and the networks would still be existing”.

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