過激派組織IS（イスラム国）の掃討を進めているイラク軍は11月1日声明を発表し、ISの拠点となっている北部の都市モスル市内の東端カラマ地区に特殊部隊を進めたことを明らかにした。モスル奪還作戦を開始してから2週間で、ISとイラク軍の戦闘は市街戦に突入し、重要局面を迎えている。ロイターなどが報じた。
BBCによると、イラクのハイダル・アバディ首相は10月31日、「3000〜5000人の部隊が2014年6月以来ISが制圧していたモスル市内に進撃した。ISに逃げ場所はない。あるのは降伏か、死のどちらかだ」と語った。
モスル近郊、解放されたアルシュラ地区を訪問するアバディ首相
奪還作戦にはイラク政府軍、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3万人の連合軍が参加している。モスル市内には住民が100万人以上いるとみられ、ISは住民を「人間の盾」にするなど徹底抗戦を図るおそれがある。
AP通信によるとイラク特殊部隊のサミ・アル・アリディ司令官は「ダーイシュ（ISの中東での呼称）は反撃し、カラマ地区近隣の住民や我が軍の進軍を妨害するためにコンクリートの壁を築いている。爆弾も市内の道路のいたるところに置いている」と語った。
ペシュメルガに同行しているアルジャジーラのステファニー・デッカー記者によると、「ISはモスル周辺で油井やタイヤに火を放ち、一体は黒い煙に覆われている。彼らの目的は、煙幕を張ることでISの戦闘員の隠れ蓑にし、連合軍の空爆や地上戦を撹乱させることにある。煙は信じられないほど濃く、戦闘は激化している」という。
イラク軍、モスルに進撃
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(01 of18)
Smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(02 of18)
Girls walk as smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before IS militants fled the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(03 of18)
Smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(04 of18)
Tribal fighters walk as fire and smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before IS militants fled the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(05 of18)
Smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(06 of18)
Girls walk as smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before IS militants fled the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(07 of18)
Smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ-MOSUL(08 of18)
Smoke rises from oil wells, set ablaze by Islamic State militants before fleeing the oil-producing region of Qayyara, Iraq, November 1, 2016. REUTERS/Alaa Al-Marjani (credit:Alaa Al-Marjani / Reuters)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(09 of18)
An Iraqi special forces soldier stands atop a Humvee in the village of Bazwaya, some 8 kilometers from the center of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. Iraqi special forces stood poised to enter Mosul in an offensive to drive out Islamic State militants after sweeping into the last village on the city\'s eastern edge Monday while fending off suicide car bombs without losing a soldier. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(10 of18)
Iraqi special forces soldiers use radio communication as a tank rolls down an alley in the village of Bazwaya, some 8 kilometers from the center of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. Iraqi special forces stood poised to enter Mosul in an offensive to drive out Islamic State militants after sweeping into the last village on the city\'s eastern edge Monday while fending off suicide car bombs without losing a soldier. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(11 of18)
An Iraqi special forces soldier holds a rocket propelled grenade launcher in Bazwaya, some 8 kilometers from the center of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. Iraqi special forces stood poised to enter Mosul in an offensive to drive out Islamic State militants after sweeping into the last village on the city\'s eastern edge Monday while fending off suicide car bombs without losing a soldier. (AP Photo/Marko Drobnjakovic) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(12 of18)
Smoke rises from burning oil fields in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. For two weeks, Iraqi forces and their Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shiite militias have been converging on Mosul from multiple directions to drive Islamic State militants from Iraq\'s second largest city. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(13 of18)
A man talks on his cellphone as smoke rises from burning oil fields in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. For two weeks, Iraqi forces and their Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shiite militias have been converging on Mosul from multiple directions to drive Islamic State militants from Iraq\'s second largest city. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Mideast Iraq Mosul(14 of18)
Children playfully pose for a photo as smoke rises from burning oil fields in Qayara, some 50 kilometers south of Mosul, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 31, 2016. For two weeks, Iraqi forces and their Kurdish allies, Sunni tribesmen and Shiite militias have been converging on Mosul from multiple directions to drive Islamic State militants from Iraq\'s second largest city. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
IRAQ-CONFLICT(15 of18)
Shiite fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation Units) flash the sign for victory as they enter the village of Abu Shuwayhah, south of Mosul, on November 1, 2016, during the ongoing offensive to retake the last major Islamic State (IS) group stronghold in Iraq.\nJust over two weeks into the massive offensive to retake Mosul soldiers managed to push within city limits.\n\n / AFP / AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo credit should read AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:AHMAD AL-RUBAYE via Getty Images)
Operation to liberate Iraqs Mosul from Daesh(16 of18)
MOSUL, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 01: A view of Mosul-Erbil Highway, secured by Iraqi army members, during a sandstorm near Tehrawa village between Bertilla and Kokceli, as the operation to retake Iraq\'s Mosul from Daesh terrorists continues in Mosul, Iraq on November 1, 2016. (Photo by Hemn Baban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Operation to liberate Iraqs Mosul from Daesh(17 of18)
MOSUL, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 01: A destroyed vehicle, due to the clashes removed from the road as Iraqi army members guard at Mosul-Erbil Highway during the operation to retake Iraq\'s Mosul from Daesh terrorists in Mosul, Iraq on November 1, 2016. (Photo by Hemn Baban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Operation to liberate Iraqs Mosul from Daesh(18 of18)
MOSUL, IRAQ - NOVEMBER 01: Iraqi army members guard at Mosul-Erbil Highway as the operation to retake Iraq\'s Mosul from Daesh terrorists continues in Mosul, Iraq on November 1, 2016. (Photo by Hemn Baban/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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