Quote Originally Posted by JWing View Post
I just interviewed journalist Florian Neuhof who has been covering the Mosul campaign since it started. Here's a link.
2. In just a few days the battle for Mosul has been transformed from a slow slog to a quick advance across most of the eastern section of the city. Why do you think the fight changed so dramatically?

Apart from the reasons given by the coalition - better coordination, more US SF assistance and better tactics - you now have considerably more capable forces in eastern Mosul after the arrival of the Rapid Response Forces and some able police units. And while sending in the GD ahead of everyone else was strategic nonsense, it did soften up ISIS defenses prior to the renewed push early in the new year. The Iraqis where able to replace their destroyed material and beef up their forces. ISIS on the other hand cannot resupply the east bank from the west any more, and has limited manpower in Mosul anyway.

I saw a lot more air support the last couple of times I went into Mosul, which might be a consequence of US special forces getting closer to the action. At the same time, the Iraqi forces are coming up with better ways to deal with suicide car bombers, which have been a real hazard during the past three months. The Rapid Response Forces for instance tell the inhabitants to park their cars across the road as soon as they enter an area, so blocking off avenues of attack. Those two things combined shifts the advantage back to the military in terms of guided ordinance.
Certainly good news at the tactical level, the Iraqi forces, with coalition assistance, appear to be adapting effectively and increasingly demonstrating the ability to defeat Da'esh despite their advantage of prepared defenses. One can only hope, that the Iraqi government has also adapting during this time, and is prepared to govern effectively once Mosul is liberated to consolidate this victory.