Mosul locals retreat to silence, prepare for worst

The long-awaited offensive to retake Mosul from Daesh unleashes fear for those residing in Mosul as civilians prepare for hard times, according to a resident of Mosul, underscoring that the fight against Daesh will be harder than expected.

"We feel that Daesh intends to fight a huge battle in Mosul, and there are no signs of it backing up or withdrawing," he told Daily Sabah on condition of anonymity. He hides his identity and does not state his age, ethnic identity or which part of the city he lives in. He even avoided answering the question, "What was your profession before Daesh came to the city?" However, the local source - described as "one of the few reliable sources reporting from Mosul" by the international press -- shared the latest situation in the city and Daesh's tactics.

"The noises of the battles are closing in, especially on the northern outskirts where people are about to see the Iraqi and peshmerga flags of the liberating forces," he said. Daesh set booby traps on all bridges in the city and places explosive on electric poles. Bomb-laden vehicles have been deployed in various districts, and prisoners have been moved to be used as human shields. "The number of militants on the streets has increased; although it is not prohibited, nobody leaves their homes. Food prices spiked as well," said a resident about the worsening situation of the city.

A local resident who wrote "There are three Daesh militants per street" in his blog where he reports on what's happening to the world, said, "Check points are popping up more and more around the city, checking people for their phones and SIM cards." He added that Daesh militants threaten to arrest those refusing to turn in their SIM cards. In a city under siege where being arrested by Daesh equals execution, "Those who successfully manage to hide a SIM card, fear using them."

Many militants patrolling the city are foreign nationals and children. The leaders have taken their families out of Mosul. Only fighters remain in the city. Many child fighters between the ages of 15 and 18 are in Mosul. The militants oppress locals with threats. "Who is not with us is against us," said one Daesh leader at Bab Altob, "and anyone tries to back up the liberating forces is targeted."

As the battle for Mosul rages, locals retreat into silence. Leaving your home is not forbidden yet, but no one takes the risk of leaving his or her home, "unless it is necessary." Since "people are shocked by the latest events in Kirkuk," local resident also stressed, "People fear the war and the uncertainty of it and what happens after it very much."