An Iraqi woman carries a child as they flee from the Old City of Mosul on July 7, 2017, during the Iraqi government forces' offensive to retake the city from Islamic State fighters. HMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images
Iraqi Prime Minister Declares Victory in Mosul
At a July 3 press conference in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi declared victory over ISIS in Mosul, even as Iraqi forces continue to battle ISIS in an increasingly smaller section of Mosul’s Old City. “Praise be to God, we managed to liberate [Mosul] and proved the others were wrong,” he said. “The people of Mosul supported and stood with our security forces against terrorism.”
Hawija Next Target After Mosul for Iraqi Troops
As the battle for Mosul draws to a close, Iraq will soon turn to driving ISIS out of Hawija, located 99 miles to the south of Mosul. Iraqi troops, Kurdish Peshmerga forces, and Shi’i militias have surrounded Hawija, the last ISIS stronghold in Iraq, for several weeks. Half of the city’s 500,000 residents have been displaced, and those who remain are allegedly being used as human shields.
More Allegations of Abuse by Iraqi Forces
Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on June 30 that within the previous seven days, witnesses alleged that Iraqi forces in Mosul beat and killed men and boys thought to be affiliated with ISIS who were trying to escape the city. HRW deputy Middle East director Lama Fakih said, “As Iraqi forces are poised to retake the entire city of Mosul, allegations of unlawful killings and beatings significantly raise concerns for the civilians there who have been living under ISIS control.” The allegations come after Swedish news outlet Expressen reported on June 28 that a federal police officer admitted to and bragged about decapitating at least 50 men during the war against ISIS.
With Territorial Losses, ISIS Turns to Suicide Bombs
On July 2, a suicide bomber attacked the Kilo 60 camp for internally displaced Iraqis near the town of al-Wafa. Dressed as a woman, he killed 14 people, 2 of whom were police, and wounded at least 20 people. ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombing. The Kilo 60 camp will now be closed, and everyone living there brought to the Kilo 18 camp west of Ramadi.
Iran Presidential Inauguration Finally Scheduled for Aug. 5
Following weeks of tension between Ayatollah Khomenei and President Hassan Rouhani, a date has been scheduled for Rouhani’s second inauguration. The date, Aug. 5, comes two days after the ayatollah’s presidential precept is to be given to Rouhani, who was overwhelmingly re-elected in May with nearly 60 percent of the vote.
—Compiled by Alex Shanahan and David DePriest
