クルド人部隊「ペシュメルガ」の戦闘員がモスル東部でロケット砲を発射
過激派組織IS（イスラム国）が占拠するイラク第2の都市モスルの奪還を目指し、イラク軍が10月17日から解放作戦を開始した。
BBCによると、イラク政府軍、クルド人部隊「ペシュメルガ」、イスラム教スンニ派の戦闘員およそ3万人の連合軍が、4000〜8000人とみられるIS戦闘員の掃討を目指す。軍は作戦初日の24時間でモスルの200キロ四方にある9つの村を包囲し、「予定より早く進んでいる」と成果を強調している。
ISは戦闘員が撤退する一方で、自爆攻撃などで対抗している。およそ130万人いるとみられるモスル市民を「人間の盾」にして巻き込み激しく抵抗する姿勢を見せており、奪還作戦は長期化する可能性もある。
モスルは首都バグダッドに次ぐ北部の都市で、2014年6月にISが占拠して以来、「首都」と称するシリアのラッカと並ぶ重要な拠点だ。2014年7月には、最高指導者バグダディ容疑者がモスル市内の大モスクでイスラム国家の「カリフ（イスラム教の最高指導者）」を宣言した。
モスルの大モスクで演説するバグダディ容疑者
イラクのハイダル・アバディ首相は17日未明にモスル解放作戦の開始を発表し、年内に奪還を目指す。アメリカ軍が空爆などで支援し、クルド人部隊も作戦に参加している。アバディ首相はTwitterに次のように投稿した。
時は来た。モスル解放作戦が始まった。イラク国の愛するモスル市民が一体となって勝利を祝う時がやってくる。
イラク軍は6月17日に西部の都市ファルージャを奪還した。首都バグダッドから西方約56キロにあり、旧サダム・フセイン大統領政権の中枢を担ったイスラム教スンニ派が多数を占める。2014年にISが掌握し、バグダッド攻略の拠点となっていた。アバディ首相はファルージャ奪還後、次の目標をモスルに定めていた。
ファルージャは国の手に戻った。次の戦闘はモスルだ。ダーイシュ（イスラム国）は敗北するだろう。
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モスル奪還作戦
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(01 of19)
A member of Peshmerga forces sits in the back of the military vehicle in the east of Mosul during operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(02 of19)
Peshmerga forces walk in the east of Mosul during operation to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(03 of19)
Smoke rises from clashes in the east of Mosul during clashes with Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(04 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(05 of19)
Iraq\'s Kurdistan region\'s President Massoud Barzani (C) speaks during a news conference on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(06 of19)
A member of Peshmerga forces stands on a military vehicle in the east of Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(07 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(08 of19)
Peshmerga forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(09 of19)
Peshmerga forces with western forces advance in the east of Mosul to attack Islamic State militants in Mosul, Iraq, October 17, 2016. REUTERS/Azad Lashkari (credit:Azad Lashkari / Reuters)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(10 of19)
Smoke rises from Islamic state positions after an airstrike by coalition forces in villages surrounding Mosul, in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition air and ground support, launched coordinated military operations early on Monday as the long-awaited fight to wrest the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters got underway.(AP Photo) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(11 of19)
A peshmerga convoy drives towards a frontline in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. The Iraqi military and the country\'s Kurdish forces say they launched operations to the south and east of militant-held Mosul early Monday morning. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(12 of19)
FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 14, 2016 file photo, Iraqi special forces soldiers deployed for an offensive to retake Mosul from Islamic State militants prepare to move out from a camp near Khazer, Iraq. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the start of military operations to liberate the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants on Monday, launching the country on its toughest battle since American troops left nearly five years ago.(AP Photo/Adam Schreck, File) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SYRIA-IRAQ-CONFLICT-REFUGEES(13 of19)
Youth sit outside a UNHCR tent at a refugee camp housing Iraqi families who fled fighting in the Mosul area on October 17, 2016 in the northeastern town of al-Hol in Syria\'s Hasakeh province. \nThe battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from jihadists could unleash a massive humanitarian crisis, potentially pushing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes as winter sets in. / AFP / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DELIL SOULEIMAN via Getty Images)
SYRIA-IRAQ-CONFLICT-REFUGEES(14 of19)
A woman walks with children at a refugee camp housing Iraqi families who fled fighting in the Mosul area on October 17, 2016 in the northeastern town of al-Hol in Syria\'s Hasakeh province. \nThe battle to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from jihadists could unleash a massive humanitarian crisis, potentially pushing hundreds of thousands to flee their homes as winter sets in. / AFP / DELIL SOULEIMAN (Photo credit should read DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:DELIL SOULEIMAN via Getty Images)
Operation to liberate Iraqs Mosul from Daesh(15 of19)
MOSUL, IRAQ - OCTOBER 17: Peshmerga forces located Khazir front at Zardak Mountain assemble an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or) with the guidance of US soldiers as they prepare to attack Daesh targets during an operation to retake Iraq\'s Mosul from Daesh in Mosul, Iraq on October 17, 2016. A much anticipated Mosul offensive to liberate the city from Daesh began midnight Sunday, according to Iraqi Prime Minister. (Photo by Emrah Yorulmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(16 of19)
Smoke billows as Iraqi forces hold a position on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, while advancing towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(17 of19)
Smoke billows as Iraqi forces deploy on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, while advancing towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(18 of19)
Iraqi forces deploy on October 17, 2016 in the area of al-Shurah, some 45 kms south of Mosul, as they advance towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists.\nSome 30,000 federal forces are leading the offensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and difficult assault on IS\'s last major Iraqi stronghold.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(19 of19)
A peshmerga convoy drives towards a frontline in Khazer, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 17, 2016. Iraqi government and Kurdish forces, backed by U.S.-led coalition air and ground support, launched coordinated military operations early on Monday as the long-awaited fight to wrest the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State fighters got underway.(AP Photo) (credit:Uncredited/AP)
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