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Voiceover by Harold Hoover
On June 21st, ISIS terrorists blew up the Al-Nuri Kabir Mosque in the Old Mosul area in western Mosul. The mosque is located in the center of Old Mosul, the last remaining ISIS stronghold in the Iraqi city. The Al-Nuri Kabir Mosque was the place where ISIS Leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed a ‘Caliphate’ in 2014.
The ISIS-linked news agency Amaq released a statement arguing that a US airstrike destroyed the mosque.
On the same day, Iraqi security forces (ISF), backed up by the US-led coalition, launched a large-scale advance in order to retake Old Mosul from ISIS. ISF fighters advanced on Old Mosul from the northern and southwestern directions, penetrated ISIS defense lines, and reached the area close to the Al-Nuri Kabir Mosque.
The destruction of the mosque by terrorists is a clear indication of the collapse of ISIS in Mosul.
According to pro-government sources, about 300 ISIS terrorists were killed in the recent clashes in Old Mosul. However, this has not been confirmed by photo or video evidence. According to some sources, the total number of ISIS members remaining in the city is between 300 and 400.
According to pro-ISIS sources, some 36 ISF servicemen were killed in clashes in Old Mosul.
According to official estimates, over 100,000 civilians are trapped in the ISIS-held area. However, experts believe that number to be an overestimation as was the case during the final stages of the battle for Aleppo.
Iraqi forces entered a final phase of their wider effort to liberate the city of Mosul from terrorists. If they entrench in the recently captured areas of Old Mosul, they will be able to set a foothold for a rapid liberation of this strategic area.