page_title: Battle of Mosul (2016–17)
section_title: October: Phase One and initial advances
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of Mosul (2016–17) / The battle / October: Phase One and initial advances
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Army leaders from the United States Central Command discuss battle plans with Iraqi security forces at Qayyarah West Airfield, Iraq, Oct. 25, 2016. More than 60 coalition partners have committed themselves to the goals of eliminating the threat posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and have contributed in various capacities to the effort to combat ISIL in Iraq, the region and beyond. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Brecht)
context_page_description: The Battle of Mosul (2016–17) was a major military campaign launched by the Iraqi Government forces with allied militias, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and international forces to retake the city of Mosul from the Islamic State, which had seized the city in June 2014. During the military intervention against ISIL, Iraqi and Peshmerga forces had already made unsuccessful attempts to retake the city in 2015 and again in 2016, despite limited gains. The battle was also the world's single largest military operation in nearly 15 years, the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
  The offensive, dubbed Operation "We Are Coming, Nineveh", began on 16 October 2016, with forces besieging ISIL-controlled areas in the Nineveh Governorate surrounding Mosul, and continued with Iraqi troops and Peshmerga fighters engaging ISIL on three fronts outside Mosul, going from village to village in the surrounding area in the largest deployment of Iraqi troops since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
  At dawn on 1 November 2016, Iraqi Special Operations Forces entered the city from the east.
context_section_description: On 16 October 2016, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the beginning of the assault to recapture the city of Mosul. Officials reported howitzers firing on ISIL targets later that day. The main assault began on 17 October at approximately 6 a.m., local time, with shelling and the arrival of armored vehicles to the front lines. The Peshmerga in the Khazir region, east of Mosul, started the ground assault by advancing on ISIL-held villages from three fronts, while Iraqi security forces advanced from the south. Iraqi troops advanced on the Bartella area east of Mosul while ISIL fighters fired mortars at Peshmerga. The President of KRG, Massoud Barzani, said that Peshmerga and Iraqi government fighters retook 200 square kilometers (80 square miles) from ISIL on the first day of fighting. Iraqi government officials reported inflicting severe casualties and destruction of equipment on ISIL forces in the Hamdaniya district southeast of Mosul. Wounded ISIL fighters reported to have been transferred to their de facto capital Raqqa, in Syria, for medical aid. Some ISIL fighters were reported shaving their beards and getting rid of their Afghan uniforms. Mosul's "Freedom Bridge" was destroyed in the fighting.
  On 18 October, the Iraqi government declared to have captured 20 villages from ISIL within 24 hours of fighting. On the southern front, Iraqi troops retook several villages near Qayyarah, including al-Sirt, Bajwaniya, al-Hud and al-Mashraf, and parts of the al-Hamdaniya District southeast of Mosul, as well as the al-Shura District. Iraqi Federal Police also regained control of 56 oilfields in the Qayyarah district. According to reports, the Peshmerga met little resistance on the eastern front, while Iraqi and PMF fighters coming from the south faced tougher resistance from ISIL. Iraqi Army forces stormed Qaraqosh (Bakhdida), once the largest Assyrian town in Iraq, and fought with ISIL fighters who remained holed up, while also nearing Hammam al-'Alil. The Iraqi and Peshmerga advance had been slowed down during the same day due to suicide bombers, roadside IEDs and oil fires, and the allied forces were carrying out street-by-street search operations to clear out ISIL forces from the outskirts of Mosul city. The Peshmerga later paused their advance while the Iraqi Army continued its advance.
  At this point in time, the Coalition strategy was reported to be to encircle Mosul completely, after which Iraqi troops would advance into the city center. As the Iraqi Army advanced on Mosul, rebellion against ISIL broke out in the city, though ISIL forces put down the revolts within a couple of days.
  The Iraqi Army resumed fighting on 19 October, surrounding Qaraqosh, while ISIL deployed snipers and car bombs. Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Maliki declared that Iraqi forces had captured 13 villages north and northeast of Al Quwayr, south of Mosul, and the Iraqi Army was reported to be within 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) of the outskirts of Mosul city. The village of Kani Harami was captured after heavy fighting in the morning with the militants retreating to Abbasiyah. A total of 22 towns were reported to have been captured, with 12 by the Peshmerga and 10 by the ISF. Nofal Hammadi, governor of the Nineveh Governorate, declared that 40% of the province had been retaken from ISIL.
  The offensive to retake the town of Bashiqa northeast of Mosul was delayed due to lack of logistical support. The international coalition's commander Gary Voelsky also stated that a majority of ISIL leaders were fleeing Mosul, and predicted that foreign fighters would form the majority of militants remaining in the city.
  The fighting intensified on 20 October. A large convoy of Golden Division arrived at positions retaken by the Peshmerga forces, and they also captured Bartella. According to Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi of the Iraqi Army, 200 ISIL fighters were killed in the fight for Bartella. The Peshmerga and NPF announced a "large-scale operation" to the north and northeast of Mosul, to retake the Assyrian towns of Tesqopa and Bashiqa. During the day, the Peshmerga captured
caption: U.S. Army and Iraqi military leaders discuss battle plans at Qayyarah Airfield West, 25 October.
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