Iraq on Alert after ISIS Resurgence in Mosul

  • 11/22/2018
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A large military delegation, headed by Iraqi Chief of Staff Othman al-Ghanmi, arrived in the Nineveh province to address the latest security developments after a spike in ISIS activity in the region. The visit reflects the importance the military command places on Nineveh, the province through which ISIS entered Iraq in 2014. The visit was also made after Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr tweeted that “Mosul was in danger” and that it was falling prey to terrorism and corrupt figures. The Qarar alliance, headed by Usama al-Nujaifi, expressed its disappointment that officials were not giving the developments in Mosul enough attention. “We have not seen a serious approach to the factors that led to the emergence of ISIS” after last year’s victory against the group, it said in a statement. The same practices are being adopted in Nineveh and corruption is threatening life there, it warned. “The government’s failure cannot be justified by any excuse,” it stressed. “Infrastructure is still destroyed, corruption is everywhere, foreign meddling is rampant on border crossings and unemployment is very high. These are elements that are ripe to be abused for any terrorist act.” It also cited the federal government and local authority’s failure in meeting the people’s most basic rights, such as obtaining official documents. The bloc therefore called on Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to “intervene immediately” to contain the security situation and unite forces under a single command, making sure that official agencies do not exploit their power to attack and extort the people. Senior Sadrist movement member, former MP Hakem al-Zamli said that the situation in Mosul is similar to the one that prevailed during 2014, noting the smuggling of oil, corruption of security agencies, arbitrary arrests and weakness of the security forces and local governor. He revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that ISIS “is starting to take root in certain regions in southern Mosul because the government has not seriously addressed the situation in the city.” Sadr’s tweet was a real warning given that many ISIS members are present throughout Mosul, he remarked. “The group is really turning into a real threat to Mosul and Iraq’s future,” he warned.

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