The 5 Key Players in the Battle for Mosul

The battle for Mosul—Iraq’s second largest city—barrels westward toward its end. When ISIS loses Mosul, it will also lose its last significant foothold in Iraq.

The east of the city was liberated in January, but the fight for the remaining half of the city will be intense, bloody, and contested by a host of different actors that are difficult to keep track of. These 5 facts explain what you need to know.

Civilians

Let's begin with those caught in the crossfire.