The Coalition struck 90 watercraft and three barges on the Tigris River in Mosul Jan. 18 – 20. Many of these watercraft were being used to ferry ISIL fighters and equipment across the Tigris River from East to West Mosul in an attempt to escape the Iraqi Security Forces as they continued to clear the remaining portions of East Mosul.

Iraqi Security Forces secured the Eastern bank of all five bridges across the Tigris River in Mosul during the past week of clearing operations making it difficult for ISIL fighters to flee the Iraqi Security Forces.

“We believe this was a desperate attempt to retrograde ISIL fighters now that the Iraqi Security Forces own the Eastern bank of every bridge in Mosul,” said Col. John L. “JD” Dorrian, CJTF-OIR Spokesman. “This is one more example of how the Coalition is supporting the military defeat of ISIL by launching air strikes while Iraqi military complete the clearance of Eastern Mosul.”

Since the operation to liberate Mosul began on Oct. 17, 2016, the Coalition has destroyed at least 112 watercraft on the Tigris River in Mosul, with several more damaged or destroyed outside of the city.

Video footage of airstrikes in support of this operation can be found at:

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/506093/coalition-airstrike-destroys-daesh-watercraft-near-mosul-iraq

https://www.dvidshub.net/video/504515/coalition-airstrike-destroys-daesh-barge-near-mosul-iraq