Martyn Aim via Getty Images
イラク軍が、過激派組織IS（「イスラム国」）が支配する大都市モスル南部にある空港を奪還したと、CNNなどが報じた。
CNNによると、イラク連邦警察などは、ドローンや重砲隊などを駆使し、複数箇所から空港を急襲。攻防戦は数時間で完了した。空港は2014年からISの支配下にあり、大部分が破壊されていた。コル・アブドゥル・アミル・モハメッド司令官は「空港はイラク連邦警察が完全に制圧した」と語った。
イラク連邦警察による空港の奪還は、困難で流血を伴うと予想されるモスルからのISの完全追放に向けた戦いにとって、幸先のよいスタートとなった。
空港は、イラク軍が重要ターゲットに定めるモスルの中で大きな面積を占めており、南西部から中心部への拠点となる。空港の制圧により、イラク軍はチグリス川の西側を初めて支配下に置いた。
これに先立つモスル東部の制圧では、作戦完了までに100日間を要し、多くの犠牲を伴った。23日にバグダッドに到着したアメリカ中央軍トップのゲン・ジョセフ・ボータル氏が、500人の死者を出し、3000人が負傷したことを明らかにしたと、ニューヨークタイムズが伝えている。
モスル西部の制圧には、時間がかかる見通しだ。
■関連画像集「モスル奪還作戦」
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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