Mosul 2017.

This is coolbert:

From the Strategy Page archive of Colonel Austin Bay we have this item.

"On Point"

"Mosul and Urban Warfare"

"On July 10, Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi declared coalition forces had won a "total victory" in their fight to free the city of Mosul. Since June 2014, the unfortunate city had been occupied by ISIS terrorists."

"Abadi's claim of total victory was premature. In the following days, several small firefights erupted around the city. ISIS fighters reportedly entered a liberated village outside Mosul. Had they been hiding, planning to stage "stay behind" attacks on coalition forces? Or were they fleeing? Who knows. In city fights, flickering resistance may continue for weeks after the major battle is done."

Those many ruined buildings of Mosul offer excellent protection and hiding places for Islamic State "die-hards". Colonel Bay noting too the tactic of using "stay-behind" units organized in advance and capable of considerable mischief.

I HAVE REFERRED ON OCCASION TO MOSUL AS STALINGRAD IN THE DESERT. KEEP IN MIND THAT AFTER GERMAN SURRENDER AT STALINGRAD SPORADIC FIGHTING CONTINUING FOR TWO MONTHS. 20 % OF THE GERMAN FORCE RUSSIAN NATIONALS KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT GRIM FATE WAITED FOR THEM IF THEY GAVE UP TO THE SOVIET!!

coolbert.