ISIL now contained in Hawija, Tel Afar and Mosul <br /><br /> Gains in Shirqat came over 3 days <br /><br /> Mosul push could come next month – officials <br /><br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Iraqi forces, backed by air strikes from the US-led coalition, have gained complete control of the northern district of Shirqat.<br /><br /> Iraqi forces advanced swiftly through the area after Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the operation on Tuesday morning.<br /><br /> Analysts say it brings the military a step closer to a main push on Mosul later this year.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> #Iraq forces declared victory in #Shirqat under 72 hrs after launching ops. Draw what conclusions you may for #Mosul https://t.co/4mabd83Pzg— Stephen Kalin (@stephenkalin) September 22, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What about civilians?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Tens of thousands of civilians are thought to be trapped in the town, as well as nearby villages.<br /><br /> They have been under ISIL control since the group seized a third of Iraqi territory in 2014.<br /><br /> However, the operation has so far not generated the large-scale out-flux of people seen in other recent campaigns.<br /><br /> The UNHCR says there was no displacement on Tuesday and only 32 people left their homes for a nearby reception centre on Wednesday.<br /><br /> The Iraqi authorities hope the course of battle will allow residents to shelter in place to avoid creating a humanitarian crisis as forces move towards the more heavily-populated Mosul.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Islamic State driven from strategic town of Shirqat, Iraqi military says https://t.co/CUUWioiYpU — Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 22, 2016<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Why Shirqat is important<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Shirqat is on the Tigris river, 100 km south of Mosul.<br /><br /> It has been surrounded for months by Iraqi troops and Iranian-backed Shi’ite Muslim militias allied to the government.<br /><br /> The area has strategic importance as it is close to Iraqi supply lines leading to Qayyara air base further north.<br /><br /> Qayyara will be used as a logistics hub for the push on Mosul.<br /><br /> The fighting was led by the army, backed by local police and Sunni Muslim tribal fighters.<br /><br /> The militias do not seem to have taken part.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> When will the push on Mosul begin?<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> US and Iraqi officials say the push on Mosul could begin in October.<br /><br /> However, there are concerns that not enough planning has been done for how to manage the city, which is Iraq’s second-largest, if and when ISIL is expelled.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What they are saying<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> Brigadier-General Yahya Rasool, a spokesperson for the military’s joint operations command, said in a statement broadcast on state television that the district had been liberated from the “desecration of terrorism.”<br />
