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Islamic State says Mosul defeat was “retreat”, blames treason

 Islamic State says Mosul defeat was “retreat”, blames treason

Islamic State’s militants. File photo

Islamic State’s militants. File photo

Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Islamic State members have blamed their defeat in Mosul on treason from some fighters who collaborated with security forces, calling it a “retreat” according to an intelligence source in Nineveh province.

Through its media outlets in the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, IS said its “retreat” from Mosul turned the city into the “land of disappointment and sins” rather than the “land of empowerment and piousness”, as the source put it in statements to Alsumaria News.

“Daesh (IS) are trying to convince the people of Tal Afar that the group had not lost the battle of Mosul, but had rather preferred to withdraw after finding out the scale of security infiltration of the group,” the source added.

IS hsa regularly executed civilians over charges of collaboration with security forces, and usually executed members only for bad performance on the battle field.

Iraq declared Mosul free from IS militants two weeks ago, ending more than eight months of fighting to retake the group’s formerly proclaimed capital. The group lost more than 25.000 fighters throughout the campaign, according to Iraqi generals.

Only Tal Afar and a few surrounding areas remain under IS control in Nineveh. The town, for long a major IS stronghold, is widely believed to be the next target for military operations. The group declared Tal Afar an independent state from its self-styled “caliphate” last month.

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