http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/mosul/ en-us Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:26:47 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133084/posts ISTANBUL, November 14 (Compass Direct News) – In this Turkish city’s working-class neighborhood of Kurtulus, Arabic can be heard on the streets, signs are printed in the Arabic alphabet and Iraqis congregate in tea shops. In 99-percent Muslim Turkey, most of these Iraqis are not Muslims. And they are not in Turkey by choice. They are Christian refugees who fled their homeland to escape the murderous violence that increasingly has been directed at them. It is hard to tell how many of Mosul’s refugees from the recent wave of attacks have made their way to Istanbul, but finding these residents... Compass Direct News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2133084/posts#comment Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:26:47 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130853/posts MOSUL (Reuters) -- Gunmen have killed two Christian sisters and wounded their mother in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, which has seen thousands of Christians flee their homes because of violence in recent weeks, police said. Some 2,000 families, an estimated 12,000 people, fled Mosul after a campaign of threats and attacks against the Christian community last month, although many have since returned home, the United Nations refugee agency says. In the latest incident, gunmen killed one woman outside her home, then stormed the house, killing her sister and wounding their mother. RFE/RL http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2130853/posts#comment Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:19:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122267/posts Low Return On Absentee Ballots Expected; Some Officers Refuse To Vote To Underscore Political Neutrality. Soldiers must request by mail an absentee ballot from the local election district where they last lived. Then they are sent a paper ballot to fill out and mail back. Some soldiers said they never got ballots. The number of absentee military ballots applied for that ultimately get counted is consistently low. In the last federal election, only about 30 percent of overseas military ballots were tallied... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2122267/posts#comment Sun, 2 Nov 2008 03:16:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2116917/posts One grey-haired woman understands more than most the fear that has gripped Iraq's beleaguered Christian community over the past month. Her brother, Bashar al-Hazim, was among the first to be murdered in a wave of targeted killings that has forced more than 2,000 Christian families to flee the northern city of Mosul. Masked gunmen walked up to Mr Hashim as he stood with his two children outside their house in the east-side of Mosul in late September. They demanded to see his identity card, confirmed he was Christian and executed the 41-year-old on the spot. "I could have died when... Times Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2116917/posts#comment Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:00:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2107555/posts Who is behind the attacks on Christians in Mosul? The Iraqi government says it does not believe that this is al Qaeda, while media sources note that most of the people struck lived in the area controlled by Kurdish militias. The Kurdish regional government denounces the "malign efforts" of those who want to "conceal the truly guilty," denounced as "religious fanatics," and "orders" all ministers to help those who have been struck. The exchange of accusations over responsibility for the attacks against Christians in Mosul seems to confirm the at least predominantly political nature of what is taking place in... Asia News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2107555/posts#comment Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:04:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2106415/posts At least 1,300 Christian families have fled the Iraqi city of Mosul after an upsurge of violence against them by Muslim extremists, the authorities say. Thousands of people have sought refuge in outlying villages since last week after a dozen Christians were murdered, said local official Jawdat Ismail. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has vowed to protect the community. About a third of Iraq's estimated 800,000 Christians are believed to have fled abroad since the invasion of 2003. Mr Ismail, head of Mosul's bureau of displaced people, said food and other aid is being distributed to those who have recently... bbc http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2106415/posts#comment Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:31:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2106114/posts You all have probably heard about the grave situation in Mosul, Iraq. The email below came today from a JETS graduate living there. Please pray for our brothers and sisters. (JETS is the Jordan Evangelical Training School where Korky and Anni's friends are working, in Amman). Please pray for them and for their family back home who are also suffering in various ways - health, local fire risk, etc. + Please lift up their Iraqi friend (prof at JETS) and his family. They continue to have serious VISA issues and some things have come up today--please pray for God's protection... OAC (UK) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2106114/posts#comment Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:31:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105917/posts BAGHDAD — A church in the northern city of Mosul was bombed Tuesday as Christians continued to leave the city to escape recent violence that has been directed at them. Several church leaders accused the Iraqi government of trying to cover up the extent of the problems facing Christians there and of overstating its success in improving security in Mosul, one of the country’s most volatile cities. As the government announced plans on Tuesday to send officials to Mosul to assist the Christian community, the anti-American Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who is believed to be in Iran, sent some of... NYT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105917/posts#comment Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:54:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105390/posts     "Now the last safe haven for Christians is gone," said Canon Andrew White, the vicar of St. George's church in Baghdad. During the past week, twelve Christians have been killed and more than 3,000 have left the city of Mosul, once considered a safe zone for persecuted Iraqi Christians.   Mosul, on the plain of Nineveh in northern Iraq, has long been home to one of the largest remaining Christian communities in the nation. Furthermore, in recent years the city has been a destination for persecuted Christians.   Unfortunately, the safety of Mosul was only relative to... Inside Catholic http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2105390/posts#comment Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:42:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103594/posts BAGHDAD — Hundreds of terrified Christian families have fled Mosul to escape extremist attacks that have increased despite months of U.S. and Iraqi military operations to secure the northern Iraqi city, political and religious officials said Saturday. Some 3,000 Christians have fled the city over the past week alone in a "major displacement," said Duraid Mohammed Kashmoula, the governor of northern Iraq's Ninevah province. He said most have left for churches, monasteries and the homes of relatives in nearby Christian villages and towns. "The Christians were subjected to abduction attempts and paid ransom, but now they are subjected to a... Fox News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103594/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:34:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103456/posts BAGHDAD — Christians in Mosul are fleeing their homes after a spate of killings this week that left 12 Christians dead in one of the largest Christian communities in Iraq . The killings follow large protests by the community last month against the passage of the provincial elections law. An article that would give representation to Christians and other minorities was removed from the law before its passage. Now the last safe haven for Christians is gone, said Canon Andrew White the vicar of St. George's church in Baghdad . After a spree of killings and forced evictions of Iraqi... Yahoo News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2103456/posts#comment Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:57:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098328/posts WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2008 – A terrorist detonated a suicide vest Oct. 5 in Mosul as coalition forces were trying to capture a wanted man. Coaliton forces entered a building looking for the man and were shot at by enemy fighters. One man in the building detonated the vest he was wearing. No coalition force injuries were reported. Five suspected terrorists, along with three women and three children, were killed. Forces searched the building and found a weapons cache holding various small arms weapons and explosives. In other operations today, forces near Baghdad captured two wanted men and detained two... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2098328/posts#comment Mon, 6 Oct 2008 00:56:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094378/posts WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2008 – Coalition forces captured three wanted men and detained eight additional suspected terrorists yesterday and today during operations targeting al-Qaida in Iraq in and around Baghdad and Mosul, military officials reported. Southeast of Mosul yesterday, coalition forces targeting al-Qaida communication networks captured one wanted man believed to be a courier for the terrorist organization. The man, who identified himself to coalition forces during the operation, is also believed to have connections to al-Qaida communication lines coming out of Mosul. Today in Mosul, a coalition force operation targeting a wanted man believed to be a foreign terrorist... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094378/posts#comment Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:17:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074443/posts Mosul (AsiaNews) - The Iraqi Christian community is again in the sights of Islamic fundamentalists in Mosul: today news came of the death of a 65-year-old doctor, Tariq Qattan, kidnapped recently by a terrorist group. AsiaNews sources say that his family had paid a ransom of 20,000 U.S. dollars. But it was not enough money to free Tariq Qattan, one of the many Christians kidnapped by fundamentalists for extortion. Also in Mosul, two days ago - although the news has just been released today - another Christian, Nafi Haddad, was kidnapped and killed. It is not yet known whether or... Asia News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074443/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 13:02:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074073/posts American troops have foiled an apparent plot to tunnel under the Mosul provincial hall and destroy the building with explosives, officials said Tuesday. According to U.S. military officials in northern Iraq, at least two alleged al-Qaida in Iraq members were detained Monday in connection with the plot. The two men were detained "during a patrol that led to a search of a bakery" near the provincial hall, according to a news release. "Soldiers were acting on a report regarding a planned bomb attack against Provincial Hall by way of a tunnel system," the release read. Mosul has been described by... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074073/posts#comment Wed, 3 Sep 2008 22:12:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050971/posts MOSUL, IRAQ: The Battle for Mosul over the past several years has worked as a microcosm for the larger Iraqi conflict, with Coalition and Iraqi forces successfully imposing its will only after Al Qaeda and other insurgent groups held large parts of the city and region for long periods. Control over the city of 1.9 million people and the surrounding Ninewa province have been lost to Coalition and government forces twice since 2003. Only a successful security operation in May has brought attacks to their lowest recorded levels since the conflict began. Operation “Lion’s Roar” in May involved 5,000 Coalition... The Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2050971/posts#comment Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:19:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046699/posts An Iraqi policeman stands guard outside a voter registration center in Mosul as US and Iraqi troops enter. When Iraqi Army Brigadier General Noor Aldeen visited his old secondary school in northern Mosul this week, he had little time to reminisce about placing first in spelling and arithmetic. His former school in the neighborhood of Al Nomaniya is an election registration site for upcoming regional elections in October, making it a popular place for a terrorist attack in the coming weeks. Almost all of the 57 registration sites in Iraq’s third-largest city are at primary and secondary schools --... The Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2046699/posts#comment Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:20:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042149/posts What would happen if the U.S. won a war but the media didn't tell the American public? Apparently, we have to rely on a British newspaper for the news that we've defeated the last remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq. London's Sunday Times called it "the culmination of one of the most spectacular victories of the war on terror." A terrorist force that once numbered more than 12,000, with strongholds in the west and central regions of Iraq, has over two years been reduced to a mere 1,200 fighters, backed against the wall in the northern city of Mosul. Investor's Business Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2042149/posts#comment Tue, 8 Jul 2008 00:57:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037251/posts The US military in Iraq says a militant killed on Tuesday has been positively identified as the leader of al-Qaeda in the city of Mosul. It said the man - identified by a pseudonym, Abu Khalaf - had co-ordinated and ordered many attacks. He was shot dead by American troops during a raid on a building in Mosul. US and Iraqi forces have been carrying out an offensive in the city for more than a month, in an attempt to drive out al-Qaeda in Iraq from Mosul. The city, US and Iraqi officials say, is al-Qaeda's last urban stronghold in... BBC.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037251/posts#comment Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:07:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036952/posts MOSUL, Iraq — As priests do everywhere, Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho, the leader of the Chaldean Catholics in this ancient city, gathered alms at Sunday Mass. But for years the money, a crumpled pile of multicolored Iraqi dinars, went into an envelope and then into the hand of a man who had threatened to kill him and his entire congregation. “What else could he do?” asked Ghazi Rahho, a cousin of the archbishop. “He tried to protect the Christian people.” But American military officials now say that as security began to improve around Iraq last year, Archbishop Rahho, 65, stopped... The NY Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036952/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:09:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036597/posts Bill Roggio's images over at Long War Journal.Org were used in an AQI video recently released. The images of the aftermath of a suicide bombing in Mosul in March of 2008 were originally posted on Long War Journal.Org, as a part of Bill Roggio's reporting. They can be viewed here. Apparently it was these same pictures that caught the eye of Al Qaeda in Iraq. According to LWJ's report on this account. "The 38-minute-long video, titled "The Islamic State is Meant to Stay," was produced by Al Furqan, al Qaeda's media arm in Iraq. Al Furqan has released few videos... Covert Radio Show and the Long War Journal.Org http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036597/posts#comment Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:50:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035887/posts WASHINGTON, June 24, 2008 – Coalition forces killed a senior al-Qaida in Iraq leader and three other attackers today and detained more than a dozen suspects in various recent operations. Coalition forces killed the al-Qaida in Iraq “emir” of Mosul and three other attackers. During the engagement, one man was killed while attempting to detonate a suicide vest he was wearing, and another attacker, a woman, was killed as she tried to detonate the same vest on the dead man. Southwest of Mosul, coalition forces detained two terrorism suspects, and two others were captured in Tikrit, north of Baghdad. In... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035887/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:27:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035871/posts US Special Operations Forces scored a major victory in Mosul today. US forces killed al Qaeda's emir, or leader, of the northern city during a raid on a safe house. The emir, who has not been named, was killed after a Special Operations Forces team form Task Force 88, the hunter-killer teams assigned to take down terrorists in Iraq, stormed a building in Mosul. The commandos opened fire after one of the terrorists attempted to detonate his suicide vest was shot and another reached for a pistol. A woman with the group attempted to detonate the vest on the dead... The Long War Journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2035871/posts#comment Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:01:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027945/posts US soldiers in Baghdad captured an Iraqi arms dealer and "assassination squad" leader responsible for trafficking Shi'ite extremists in and out of neighboring Iran for training, the military said Sunday. The arrest reinforced long-standing US allegations that Iran arms, trains and funds Shi'ite Muslim militiamen inside Iraq - charges that Teheran denies. It also coincided with a two-day visit to Iran by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, his second such trip in a year. The Iraqi prime minister, himself a Shi'ite, is struggling to keep Washington happy while reassuring Iran, the largest Shi'ite nation, that a proposed US-Iraqi security agreement... Jerusalem Post/AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027945/posts#comment Sun, 8 Jun 2008 17:51:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026154/posts Cruise the streets of Mosul, and you’ll see plenty of men wearing one of the Iraqi army’s handful of motley uniforms. You’ll see a similarly large number of men wearing the Iraqi police uniform. You’ll probably even run into several American soldiers wearing their distinctive digital camouflage. But what you won’t see is the tan, buttoned-down shirts worn by many "Sons of Iraq" volunteers. That’s because Mosul, unlike so many other parts of Iraq, does not use "Sons of Iraq" — the term the U.S. military uses for armed civilians paid by the U.S. to guard their own neighborhoods. Those... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026154/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 23:59:08 GMT