Monday, July 02, 2007
Al Qaeda show of force in Mosul
Insurgency
(Azzaman) - Hundreds of Qaeda-linked fighters drove into the streets of the northern city of Mosul, brandishing their weapons and shouting Islamic slogans. The parade, early this week, was a show of force that the group did not fear the presence of the lightly armed and terror-stricken Iraqi police officers and paid little attention to U.S. marines camped outside the city.
Mosul has turned into one of the most violent cities in Iraq with the Qaeda fighters imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic jurisdiction by force. The city is being emptied of its once thriving Christian community following the murder of two priests and several deacons. Many churches, whose spires dot the city’s skyline, are deserted. Other minorities like the Shebeks, who are Shiites, and Yazidis, are also being targeted
Qaeda’s influence in Mosul, which many see as the country’s second largest after Baghdad, has grown tremendously since the start of the U.S. military campaign to subdue Baghdad more than four months ago. Mosul, the capital of Nineveh Province, was a mosaic of faiths, sects and nationalities. That fascinating feature has been eroding since the 2003 U.S. invasion.
A predominantly Sunni city, Mosul is now a major stronghold of anti-U.S. resistance but the surge of Qaeda has unnerved many in the city, including Sunni Muslims. With the U.S. troops and Iraqi forces engaged in pitched battles with Qaeda in Baghdad, Diyala and Ramadi, there is little for the government to do to regain some semblance of control in the city.
The government has even lost control of the predominantly Shiite city of Basra in the south. It may not be difficult for U.S. troops to move into Qaeda-controlled areas but it is apparently impossible for them to hold the ground they have retaken for long. Iraqi troops are no match to Qaeda and once they are deployed in areas cleared by Americans, the only way for the troops to survive is to come to some form of agreement with the rebels. The U.S. does not have enough troops to subdue the whole country permanently and Iraqi forces are ill prepared for the job.
Mosul has turned into one of the most violent cities in Iraq with the Qaeda fighters imposing their strict interpretation of Islamic jurisdiction by force. The city is being emptied of its once thriving Christian community following the murder of two priests and several deacons. Many churches, whose spires dot the city’s skyline, are deserted. Other minorities like the Shebeks, who are Shiites, and Yazidis, are also being targeted
Qaeda’s influence in Mosul, which many see as the country’s second largest after Baghdad, has grown tremendously since the start of the U.S. military campaign to subdue Baghdad more than four months ago. Mosul, the capital of Nineveh Province, was a mosaic of faiths, sects and nationalities. That fascinating feature has been eroding since the 2003 U.S. invasion.
A predominantly Sunni city, Mosul is now a major stronghold of anti-U.S. resistance but the surge of Qaeda has unnerved many in the city, including Sunni Muslims. With the U.S. troops and Iraqi forces engaged in pitched battles with Qaeda in Baghdad, Diyala and Ramadi, there is little for the government to do to regain some semblance of control in the city.
The government has even lost control of the predominantly Shiite city of Basra in the south. It may not be difficult for U.S. troops to move into Qaeda-controlled areas but it is apparently impossible for them to hold the ground they have retaken for long. Iraqi troops are no match to Qaeda and once they are deployed in areas cleared by Americans, the only way for the troops to survive is to come to some form of agreement with the rebels. The U.S. does not have enough troops to subdue the whole country permanently and Iraqi forces are ill prepared for the job.
The heavy presence of Qaeda in Mosul is threatening the relative quiet of several towns and regions in northern Iraq. Violence has spread to several Christian districts in the Province. Authorities in the so far peaceful Kurdish cities of Arbil and Dahouk, which border Nineveh Province, are concerned about the fallout of Qaeda’s influence in Mosul.
Labels: Al Qaeda, Christians, Mosul, Shebeks, Yezidis
