Ahead of offensive, Iraqi planes drop leaflets over Mosul to advise residents

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Iraqi aircraft dropped thousands of leaflets on Sunday over Mosul, advising residents to stay away from ISIS shelters as an offensive to evict the militants from their Iraqi stronghold appeared imminent.

 

The Iraqi army and its allied militia, Peshmerga forces and the US-led coalition are poised for the offensive.

 

The leaflets dropped over Mosul advise residents “to avoid ISIS shelters, try to stay indoors and shut doors and windows.”

 

The message also highlights a message from Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi which reads: “The Mosul liberation operation is close and it is time to clean Iraq of Daesh (ISIS).” 

 

The pamphlets also provide a hotline where people can call to get information to “locate the whereabouts” of ISIS activities.

 

Iraqi military officials have said that the purpose of the leaflets is to inform people about the preparations for the offensive before the assault kicks off.

 

Mosul fell to ISIS in early June 2014, after the rapid capitulation by the Iraqi military, whose members reportedly abandoned their posts as the jihadists advanced.