By Samer Saaeed
Azzaman, December 23, 2014
Islamic State Jihadists have emptied their barracks and headquarters and dispersed across Mosul amid vows by the government for an imminent attack to retake the city.
The militants invaded the city in June and since then they have been fortifying their positions and expanding their territory.
Mosul is Iraq’s largest city and home to more than 1.5 million people. But since the invasion by the Islamic State, the city has lost its minorities. Christians were forced to flee along with other communities like Yazidis, Shebeks and Shiites.
The city inhabitants, who are mainly Muslim Sunnis, say the militants have evacuated their barracks, dividing themselves into smaller groups to evade aerial bombing by U.S. and allied warplanes.
The redeployment by Islamic State militants has unnerved the city’s inhabitants who started stocking up food and other essentials and trying to avoid places frequented by jihadists.
“Mosul streets are almost empty including the city center which many think it could be the target of any attack since it’s a place where Daeesh members usually gather,” said Najem Abdullah, a taxis driver.
Daeesh is the Arabic name for the Islamic State.
The neighborhood known as Majmoa, close to Mosul University campus, used to be a magnet for students who spent their time frequenting its cafes, restaurants and shops.
But this once thriving area “has been almost deserted since the arrival of Daeesh,” said Mahmoud Dhanoon, a student.
Mosul University had a student population of 15,000 but classes have been suspended since the arrival of Islamic State militants.
Iraqi troops and Kurdish forces have retaken several villages and small towns in the city outskirts with the militants retreating to Mosul and adjacent areas.
The redeployment by the militants in residential areas will make any military endeavor to retake the city difficult. There are already fears among the population of troops and warplanes attacking civilian targets.
Dhanoon said U.S. and allied bombing has already targeted peaceful civilians living close to houses occupied by the militants.
The city police force which the militants have established is reported to have imposed new restrictions on movement and communication, according to Farouk Mohammed.
“Some people have already been following suspicions that they were leaking information about Daeesh’s redeployment,” said Mohammed.
