Defeat by Annihilation: Mobility and Attrition in the Islamic State’s Defense of Mosul
April 14, 2017
Author(s): Michael Knights and Alexander Mello
Abstract: The Islamic State’s defense of Mosul has provided unique insights into how the group has adapted its style of fighting to dense urban terrain. While the Islamic State failed to mount an effective defense in the rural outskirts and outer edges of Mosul, it did mount a confident defense of the denser inner-city terrain, including innovative pairing of car bombs and drones. The Islamic State continues to demonstrate a strong preference for mobile defensive tactics that allow the movement to seize the tactical initiative, mount counterattacks, and infiltrate the adversary’s rear areas. Yet, while the Islamic State has fought well in Mosul, it has also been out-fought. Islamic State tactics in the final uncleared northwestern quarter of Mosul are becoming more brutal, including far greater use of civilians as human shields.
https://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/defeat-by-annihilation-mobility-and-attrition-in-the-islamic-states-defense-of-mosul
