Roj Bash Kurdistan

Protecting Civilians Key to Mosul Battle?

Iraqi army should prioritise avoiding civilian casualties while moving forward in Mosul

As hundreds of thousands of civilians are still living under the Islamic State's control in Mosul and the Iraqi army is gearing up to wipe the jihadist group out of the city, the Iraqi government forces should prioritise the protection of the civilians, Human Rights Watch urges.

The international watchdog said in a statement on Sunday that those countries providing military support to the Iraqi government should condition their support on “scrupulous respect for the laws of war, which prohibit attacks that disproportionately harm civilians or fail to distinguish civilians and civilian objects from military objectives.”

The report emphasise that ISIS and the pro-government forces both have records of harming civilians during and after military operations.

“Protecting civilians from needless harm needs to be paramount in any battle for the control of Mosul,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director. “It’s essential for the Iraqi government to exercise effective command and control over all its forces, and for allies like the US and Iran to make sure they do so.”

Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the international community have constantly been criticising the violations carried out by Shi’ite militia Hashd al-Shaabi and the Iraqi army against the residents of the areas they liberate from ISIS.

http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/272159

Ever since ISIS took over Mosul, many of the civilians living there have been saying, they are more afraid of being killed by liberators than by ISIS

Facts:

Sunnis living in Mosul had experienced many years of intimidation, victimisation and segregation at the hands of the Shia population

Shia had installed numerous road blocks in order to control the Sunni population

Many Sunnis looked upon ISIS as their saviour from Shia oppression

Now that ISIS are enforcing the 'Grow a Beard Rule' unless the men are actually wearing ISIS uniform and waving an ISIS flag there is no way of telling them apart from non-ISIS citizens

I doubt very much that ISIS members will be standing in the middle of the road waving flags and drawing attention to themselves

ISIS have had a long time to plan ahead - remember all the mines they planted in Palmyra

Mosul is NOT a priority

In fact attacking Mosul is an extremely dangerous move for those living there

Also, it Mosul is attacked what is to prevent ISIS from destroying the dam?

All things considered I seriously suggest that Mosul be left alone

If anyone is keen to fight then I suggest they RESCUE THE YEZIDIS