‘High risk of chemical attack’ by desperate ISIS as they lose ground in Battle for Mosul
The offensive to crush Islamic State in its last major city stronghold in Iraq has just entered its second month
ISIS may launch a chemical attack in an effort to defend their stronghold of Mosul as the terror group loses ground to Iraqi forces.
Experts have warned the fanatics could unleash deadly synthesised bombs in the battle to halt their loss of the city.
A fierce battle is raging for the city with militant fighters continuing to resist Iraqi soldiers.
Mosul has been under attack for month and they have lost more than 1,000 fighters.
Columb Strack, senior analyst and head of the IHS Conflict Monitor, told there is a “high risk” of ISIS using chemical weapons.
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He warned: “As the Islamic State loses ground around Mosul, there is a high risk of the group using chemical weapons to slow down and demoralise advancing enemy forces, and to potentially make an example of and take revenge on civilian dissidents within the city.”
Mosul has been under the control of Isis for two years but Iraqi forces are pushing into the city.
Nearly 1,000 ISIS fighters have been killed in the bloody four week battle to drive them out of their Iraqi HQ.
But the move has come at a cost – with many Iraqi and Peshmerga victims.
The US-backed offensive to crush Islamic State in its last major city stronghold in Iraq has just entered its second month.
ISIS militants have been steadily retreating from areas around Mosul into the city since the battle started on October 17.
An elite army unit, the Counter Terrorism Service, breached the city’s eastern limits for the first time a few weeks ago.
Another breakthrough came when Iranian-backed militias announced the capture of an air base west of Mosul.
The capture of the Tal Afar base also offers the mainly Shi’ite forces a launchpad for operations against ISIS targets inside Syria.
The offensive to take Mosul, the largest city under ISIS control in either Iraq or Syria, is turning into the biggest battle in Iraq's turbulent history since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.
And those still living in the city are feeling the brunt as they are caught up in the ferocious fighting.
The militants have launched waves of counter-attacks against advancing forces, tying them down in lethal urban combat in narrow streets still full of residents.
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