The Iraqi Army and its allies, approaching Mosul
from the east, have already entered the city’s outskirts. However, the
Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, stationed in the heart of the Iraqi
city, has started to prepare for the forthcoming battle. The Stratfor
analytic agency published satellite imagery, obtained by AllSource
Analysis, which show that terrorists have built a strong defensive line
along the southern edge of the Mosul’s center.

The photos, represented by the above, were taken on October 31. As
Stratfor’s experts noted, terrorists have cleared “a wide swath of
terrain to the north of Mosul
airport, along the western bank of the Tigris River.” Practically all
the buildings of the airport complex, as well as of the former military
base to the west from it have been destroyed by terrorists in order to
transform the edge of the city’s fortified city center “into a wall,
from which they can target approaching adversaries.” The large open
areas, which have been cleared by the IS to the south of its positions
“will enable it to watch and engage advancing forces from a greater
distance.”

At the same time, a long line of barricades has also been built by
terrorists on roads leading into the city. According to Stratfor, the IS
has used portions of concrete walls in the streets in order to prevent
vehicles from using them. Terrorists have also “fashioned ready-made
barriers that are currently lining both sides of the roads that are
still open, and they could easily tip them into the streets once the
battle draws near.”

Experts noted that defensive measures of the IS terrorists would pose
a substantial tactical challenge to the air power and artillery fire of
the Iraqi forces
and its allies during the offensive on the city. “Iraqi troops will
either have to adjust their course to avoid running into the Islamic
State’s positions head-on, or accept the risks of crossing open terrain
to reach the dug-in jihadist fighters,” Stratfor’s analysts concluded.

https://southfront.org/satellite-imagery-shows-isis-defenses-in-mosul/