Iraqi Army Reclaims Another City from IS

Today, April 8, 2016, Reuters reported that the Iraqi army was able to fully recapture the city of Hit from the Islamic State (IS). The Iraqi army, backed by U.S. airstrikes, was able to dislodge the IS fighters from the city several days ago as many abandoned their families to avoid being killed or captured.

Hit is located roughly 85 miles West of Baghdad on the Euphrates river, and provided a link between IS fighters in Iraq and Syria. By reclaiming the city, the Iraqi forces are pushing IS towards the Syrian border away from Mosul, as well as cutting IS supply lines.

Hit was defended by up to 300 IS fighters who had established substantial fortifications. While the Iraqi army has reclaimed the city, it may take weeks to clear the entire city of explosives.

Just a few weeks ago the Iraqi army announced it planned to launch an offensive to retake the IS stronghold of Mosul. Before launching an assault on the city, the Iraqi and U.S. forces planned to retake smaller strongholds around Mosul to weaken and isolate IS defenders. The recapture of Hit falls under this plan, and it will hopefully damage IS’s ability to move troops and supplies.

Earlier this week the Iraqi army called a pause to further operations until federal police and local tribesmen arrived to defend recaptured areas. Major General Najm Abdullah al-Jubbouri stated, “We do not want to use all our units to hold territory.” The Iraqi army realized it will need all its soldiers on the front lines in order to retake Mosul and other areas, so it is up to the police and tribesmen to make sure the recaptured areas are protected.

While the Iraqi army found success in capturing Hit, it has struggled to take other cities like Nasr and Qayara. Being able to keep its troops on the front lines and not behind protecting cities should allow the Iraqi forces to better assault these more heavily fortified areas.

While allowing the bulk of the Iraqi army’s troops to continue pushing forward, leaving the federal police to defend the recaptured cities is not without risk. The Iraqi police have a long history of abuses, in particular they have taken part, and exacerbate, in the sectarian violence during the U.S.’s occupation. Placing a predominantly Shiite security force in predominantly Sunni towns certainly risks sectarian tensions. The Iraqi certainly believes the presence of local Sunni tribesmen will provide a counterbalance to the police force.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2016, the Popular Mobilization Force (PMF), a coalition of Shiite militias, some closely aligned with Iran, will join the fight to retake Mosul. The presence of the PMF may boost in Iraq’s frontline fighting force, but raises significant concerns regarding sectarian violence against the residents of primarily Sunni Mosul.

While the Iraqi army restarts the push for Mosul soon, the Syrian army has begun its offensive to recapture cities in the province of Homs. Last week the Syrian army was able to recapture Palmyra from IS, and they have reportedly continued to push through the province. Just as the Iraqi army is attempting to take smaller strongholds before attacking Mosul, the Syrian army is attempting a similar strategy before it begin an assault on Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa.

The Iraqi and Syrian armies have been able to regain territory from IS, but both will still be in for a long fight. Iraqi personnel problems and with the Syrian military’s focus spread thin against multiple insurgencies, advancement against IS is likely to be a slow and laborious process.