Waves of ISIS suicide bombers turning battle for Mosul into a ‘nightmare’ as Iraqi troops warn jihadis wearing explosive vests are impossible to spot among civilians
IRAQI troops have told how the "Battle for Mosul" has become a "nightmare" as crazed jihadi suicide bombers are impossible to spot among civilians.
ISIS forced its dress code on the population after it seized control of the city in a bloody battle in 2014.
An Iraqi army colonel, who asked not be named, said: "Our soldiers can't recognise them until it's too late, when the attacker either detonates his explosive vest or throws a grenade."
He added: "It's becoming a nightmare and it's nerve-wracking for the soldiers."
His Ninth Armoured Division lost two T-72 tanks and an armoured vehicle yesterday.
Iraqi and Kurdish troops are battling a well-drilled and ruthlessly effective enemy who are exploiting the cover of built-up neighbourhoods.
The colonel has said his tanks are proving useless and his men are not trained for urban warfare.
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Jihadis have also been launching "crashing wave" attacks by releasing 50-strong units against the Iraqi, Kurdish, and Turkish troops.
Each unit includes suicide bombers, snipers, assault fighters, and logistics and mortar experts.
ISIS are facing a coalition of Iraqi army, special forces, Kurdish Peshmerga and Shi'ite paramilitary groups totalling around 100,000 fighters.
The jihadis have held back their enemies in some areas of Mosul despite only having 5,000 soldiers.
Hisham al-Hashemi, who advises the Iraqi government on how to tackle ISIS, has said the jihadis have dug a 45 mile network of tunnels under Mosul.
Hisham said: "(Iraqi and Kurdish forces) are not ready for these surprises - it's the tunnels which have caused our greatest losses."
Details of battle strategies are emerging amid reports Iraqi federal police may have tortured and killed civilians in Mosul.
Amnesty International claim up to six people have been shot dead after being detained on suspicion of having ties to ISIS.
Last week's the colonel's troops have helped take six of Mosul's roughly 60 neighbourhoods last week.
This represent the first gains in the city since the campaign to take the city back from ISIS started on October 17.
Jihadist units including snipers and suicide bombers have launched a wave of surprise attacks using their network of tunnels.
The colonel, who asked not be named, said: "We're an armoured brigade, and fighting without being able to use tanks and with soldiers unused to urban warfare is putting troops in a tough situation."
Lat year his forces took part in an operation to drive Islamic State from the city of Ramadi west of Baghdad.
They were tasked with holding territory outside while the counter terrorism forces entered the city.
The capture of Mosul is a crucial step towards wiping out the ISIS caliphate which was declared from a mosque in the city two years ago.
The colonel added: "In Mosul, we have to advance inside residential areas, comb streets, clear houses from terrorists and deal with civilians.
"I'm afraid this job is too tough for us to handle".
Sabah al-Numani from the Counter Terrorism Service said: "We are carrying out the toughest urban warfare that any force in the world could undertake".
Another CTS officer said the snipers and thousands of people trying to escape the fighting is also causing huge problems.
He said: "Sir, there are so many civilians, they have these suitcases with them as well.
"How do I know what's in them? And they're coming towards me."
ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has told his fighters last week there could be no retreat in a "total war" with their enemies.
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