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The battle for western Mosul

As fighting continues between Iraqi forces and ISIL fighters, civilians have been fleeing the city in droves.

Iraqi police look out over ISIL positions from the frontline village of Albu Saif. Before reaching the city limits, Iraqi forces had to fight their way through a string of small villages. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Iraqi police look out over ISIL positions from the frontline village of Albu Saif. Before reaching the city limits, Iraqi forces had to fight their way through a string of small villages. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
By 
Tommy Trenchard
18 Mar 2017

Mosul, Iraq – Last month, Iraqi forces resumed their assault on the city of Mosul, which has been under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL, also known as ISIS) since 2014.

The eastern side of the city was recaptured in a three-month offensive that ended in January, but the west, with its densely populated maze of narrow streets, is thought to pose a greater challenge.

Surrounded by a diverse array of Iraqi forces, the remaining ISIL fighters are digging in for a fight to the end, using car bombs, snipers and grenade-laden drones to slow the troops’ advances.

Meanwhile, civilians have been fleeing Mosul in droves, with tens of thousands more expected to be displaced as fighting continues in the weeks ahead.

A sniper from the Iraqi army's emergency response division fires at ISIL fighters in western Mosul from the eastern bank of the Tigris. Since January, the river has divided the city into ISIL-controlled and government-controlled sides. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A sniper from the Iraqi army's emergency response division fires at ISIL fighters in western Mosul from the eastern bank of the Tigris. Since January, the river has divided the city into ISIL-controlled and government-controlled sides. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
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A soldier from the Iraqi army's 16th division climbs stairs in an abandoned house in east Mosul. Though the eastern half of the city was officially retaken in January, ISIL snipers, bombings and drone attacks have continued to take a toll. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A soldier from the Iraqi army's 16th division climbs stairs in an abandoned house in east Mosul. Though the eastern half of the city was officially retaken in January, ISIL snipers, bombings and drone attacks have continued to take a toll. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi police officer wounded by shrapnel in the battle for Ghazlani military base in western Mosul receives emergency treatment. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi police officer wounded by shrapnel in the battle for Ghazlani military base in western Mosul receives emergency treatment. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi police officer uses a torch to light his way in an ISIL tunnel system outside of Mosul. The group has used an extensive network of tunnels to avoid detection and protect themselves from air strikes. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
An Iraqi police officer uses a torch to light his way in an ISIL tunnel system outside of Mosul. The group has used an extensive network of tunnels to avoid detection and protect themselves from air strikes. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A member of Iraq's emergency response division drives a Humvee during an operation to clear fighters from a village on the edge of Mosul. The city's narrow alleys make heavy armoured vehicles less useful than they were in the more open eastern side of the city. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A member of Iraq's emergency response division drives a Humvee during an operation to clear fighters from a village on the edge of Mosul. The city's narrow alleys make heavy armoured vehicles less useful than they were in the more open eastern side of the city. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
In a partially destroyed house recently recaptured from ISIL, photographs belonging to the previous occupants litter the floor. Once the city is retaken, many of its former residents will find that they have no home to return to. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
In a partially destroyed house recently recaptured from ISIL, photographs belonging to the previous occupants litter the floor. Once the city is retaken, many of its former residents will find that they have no home to return to. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
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Families fleeing west Mosul carry white flags to avoid being mistaken for ISIL fighters. Many arrive at the edge of the city exhausted and underfed. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Families fleeing west Mosul carry white flags to avoid being mistaken for ISIL fighters. Many arrive at the edge of the city exhausted and underfed. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
In the town of Hamam Alil, 10km south of Mosul, a girl waits to be transported to a camp for displaced people. According to the United Nations refugee agency, some 4,000 people have been fleeing the city each day. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
In the town of Hamam Alil, 10km south of Mosul, a girl waits to be transported to a camp for displaced people. According to the United Nations refugee agency, some 4,000 people have been fleeing the city each day. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Families who have fled ISIL describe only being able to eat one meal a day, with parents sometimes going without food in order to feed their children. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Families who have fled ISIL describe only being able to eat one meal a day, with parents sometimes going without food in order to feed their children. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
The first half of the Mosul offensive displaced some 250,000 people, many of whom now live in camps around the city, such as this one in Iraq's Kurdish region. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
The first half of the Mosul offensive displaced some 250,000 people, many of whom now live in camps around the city, such as this one in Iraq's Kurdish region. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Many of the camp's residents do not know how long they will have to live there. Their movements are restricted, and without jobs, they are fully dependent on charities and the government. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Many of the camp's residents do not know how long they will have to live there. Their movements are restricted, and without jobs, they are fully dependent on charities and the government. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Outside Hamam Alil camp, men are screened for any potential links to ISIL. On this day, six suspects had already been identified, and a dozen more awaited further questioning beside a security service Portacabin. Informants wearing balaclavas stalked the crowd, picking out those suspected of having ISIL ties. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Outside Hamam Alil camp, men are screened for any potential links to ISIL. On this day, six suspects had already been identified, and a dozen more awaited further questioning beside a security service Portacabin. Informants wearing balaclavas stalked the crowd, picking out those suspected of having ISIL ties. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Children play in the rubble of a home destroyed by fighting in Hamam Alil. After the battle for Mosul ends, repairing the infrastructure and restoring basic services will be a major challenge. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
Children play in the rubble of a home destroyed by fighting in Hamam Alil. After the battle for Mosul ends, repairing the infrastructure and restoring basic services will be a major challenge. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A youth who recently fled west Mosul looks through the fence of a camp for displaced people. Local traders sell their wares at increased prices to the camp residents. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]
A youth who recently fled west Mosul looks through the fence of a camp for displaced people. Local traders sell their wares at increased prices to the camp residents. [Tommy Trenchard/Panos/Al Jazeera]

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