The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has taken Mosul, the 2nd largest city in Iraq, as part of a multi-front, concerted military campaign. Read this SlideShare presentation for the current state of play in a dangerous and developing situation.

1. The Fall of Mosul to the Islamic State
of Iraq and
al-sham
June 10, 2014
Jessica Lewis, Research Director
Ahmed Ali, Iraq Team Lead
Institute for the Study of War

2. Key Takeaways
• The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has captured Western Mosul and areas
of Eastern Mosul, including key military facilities, as of noon June 10, 2014 EDT.
• ISIS is currently seizing military equipment, ammunition, and millions of dollars of
cash in areas as it advances. Much of this materiel is US-provided.
• ISIS is maneuvering forces on an offensive from Mosul oriented south on the
Mosul-Baghdad highway. The ISIS northern campaign extends to Kirkuk and Salah
ad-Din, the provinces bordering Ninewa in which Mosul is located.
• ISIS is a military organization conducting an insurgency against the government of
Iraq. It is no longer merely a terrorist organization. It is a conventional military
force that holds terrain and claims to govern some of it.
• The Mosul campaign was well planned and required years to set conditions. ISIS
had threatened Mosul with systemic attacks since 2012. ISIS has conducted a
campaign to assassinate and remove local authorities from Mosul since October
2013. The operations allowed it to cut off media from the city, limit the Iraqi
Security Forces’ activities there, and gain freedom of movement within it.
• This slideshow illustrates how ISIS laid the groundwork for the seizure of Mosul, its
areas of control on the morning of June 10, 2014 EDT, its assessments of its own
attacks, and its aspirations to govern a state in Iraq and Syria.

3. ISIS Historical Presence in Northern
Iraq
ISIS, formerly known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq, had an uptick in activity in December in
2006 but declined in 2008.

4. ISIS VBIED Attacks during 2012-13
Campaign
“Breaking the Walls” campaign was a Mosul-focused effort, but also saw operations in the
Baghdad belts.

5. ISIS VBIEDs in July 2013
Attacks focused on Baghdad.

6. ISIS presence in Ninewa province in
October 2013
Qayara
Shirqat
Shura
Mosul
ISIS Possible Control Zone
ISIS Attack Zone
ISIS Support Zone
ISIS in Ninewa
ISIS seeks control in southern Mosul area.

7. Baghdad Ninewa South Diyala Anbar
Salahud
din and
N.
Baghdad
Kirkuk
2012 8.2% 37.6% 11.0% 13.3% 12.9% 12.7% 4.2%
2013 6.7% 32.9% 11.0% 11.5% 12.8% 19.7% 5.4%
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
Operations by province, 2012 and 2013
(% of total attacks)
2012
2013
13
549
67 83 91 71
13
887
73 69 53 19 48 50 24
336
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Armed attacks in Iraq 2012 and
2013
2012
2013
0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10
4 3
7 7
4 5
30
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Checkpoints set up in Iraq 2012 and
2013
2012
2013
ISIS in Ninewa conducted most intense operations. Sources – Bilger, understandingwar.org.
ISIS Representation of
Attacks throughout Iraq

8. ISIS Envisioned Boundaries
ISIS sees its Islamic State Extending between Iraq and Syria.

9. ISIS Control Zones
ISIS Attack Zones
ISIS Operational Presence
ISIS achieves visible and established control.
ISIS Actual Sanctuary: June 10, 2014

10. Map of Mosul City
ISIS now spread through whole city with control of military bases and the Mosul
International airport.

11. For more or to contact our experts, visit
www.understandingwar.org
iswiraq.blogspot.com
press@understandingwar.org
@TheStudyofWar www.facebook.com/InstituteForTheStudyofWar