The Rapid Response Division (Federal Police) did better than expected in Fallujah, but the Coalition footprint with it is limited and with that there is a lack of understanding of its capabilities. So far the only force with the ability to take, clear and hold complex terrain against a determined enemy has been the CTS. The CTS were always going to be the breach force for Mosul, the issue was more where the 'Hold" forces would come from and whether the Iraqis would be able to overmatch ISIS at the tactical and operational levels through multiple threats on multiple axis/fronts, something that to date they have struggled to do.

Iraqi operational reach is also something that has bedevilled offensive efforts. It is often not the case that the Iraqis do not have the materiel, but that they cannot manage it effectively. It is extremely difficult to cross-resource across Iraqi Army formations, and even more so across services (Iraqi Army to CTS, or Police), significantly exacerbating logistic coordination of operational efforts.