Iraqi Army & Coalition Must Change Tactics of Fighting in Mosul – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Iraqi Army and the US-led coalition must urgently review their tactics of the fighting in Mosul to avoid further civilian casualties.

Jordan’s Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, listens during a news conference at the UN European headquarters in Geneva October 16, 2014 (Photo: Reuters / Denis Balibouse)

At least 307 civilians were killed, while 273 others were wounded in the western part of the Iraqi city of Mosul since February 17 to March 22, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid bin Ra’ad Zeid al-Hussein, said.

According to him, the responsibility for these losses entirely lies with the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and the international coalition led by the US.

Al-Hussein noted that since March 23 to 26, 95 civilians were killed as a result of the coalition’s bombing and actions of the IS in the western neighborhoods of Mosul.

The UN High Commissioner called on the Iraqi Army and the US-led coalition‘s forces to urgently review their tactics of the fighting in order to avoid further civilian casualties.

Al-Hussein also added that IS terrorists continue to use civilians as a human shield and open sniper fire on those, who try to escape.

“It is vital that the Iraqi Security Forces and their coalition partners avoid this trap,” the UN High Commissioner emphasized.

On the night of October 17, 2016, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the beginning of the operation to liberate Mosul city from the IS terrorist organization.

The city is under control of militants of the group since June 2014. The Iraqi Army established control over the eastern part of Mosul at the end of January. On February 19, the operation to liberate the western neighborhoods of Mosul was started.