Mosul liberation
| Part of Battle of Mosul (2016–17) | |
Iraqi prime minister declares liberation of Mosul
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| Date | 10 July 2017 |
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| Location | Mosul, Iraq |
| Coordinates | 36°21′24″N 43°09′50″E / 36.3566°N 43.1640°ECoordinates: 36°21′24″N 43°09′50″E / 36.3566°N 43.1640°E |
Mosul liberation refers to the victory of a major military campaign launched by the Iraqi Army and the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces in October 2016 to liberate the city of Mosul from the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi officially announced the liberation of the city on 10 July 2017. The Islamic State took control of the city in June 2014. During their three-year reign, they committed many atrocities.
Mosul, Iraq's second largest city, is the capital of Nineveh Governorate in northwestern Iraq and surrounds the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh. The city used to be one of the most "enlightened cities" in the Middle East hosting one of the largest educational and research centers in Iraq and the region. It also contained ancient buildings, some dating back to the 13th century such as the Great Mosque and the Red Mosque, Muslim shrines and several churches, in addition to mausoleums.
Mosul has played a key role in ISIS becoming a legitimate threat in the region and drawing recruits from abroad. It was there that, in July 2014, ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi made a rare public appearance to pronounce the group's "caliphate" in Iraq and Syria at the site of the 12th century Great Mosque of al-Nuri.
The original population of 2.5 million has fallen to approximately 1.5 million after two years of ISIL rule. The city was once extremely diverse, with ethnic minorities including Armenians, Yazidis, Assyrian, Turkmen, and Shabak people, all of whom have suffered and continue to suffer considerably under the (majority Sunni Arab) Islamic State. Mosul had witnessed an earlier period of Sunni extremism in the last days of Saddam Hussein. The city was the last stronghold of ISIL in Iraq, and the anticipated offensive by the Iraqi army and allied forces to reclaim it was promoted as the "mother of all battles". Over the last few months, ISIS has massacred hundreds who attempted to flee the city in an attempt to deter others from doing the same.
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