Follow the link in the title to see the photos
Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin
[ColonelCassad] The first photo was taken on July 9, 2017 (even before the official end of the Battle of Mosul - it officially ended on July 10).
The second photo was taken on December 11, 2021.
From the second photo, you can't even say that until recently there were solid ruins here after carpet bombing of the districts held by ISIS. The Battle of Mosul, along with the Battle of Aleppo, is one of the largest land battles of the 21st century in terms of duration, losses and number of forces involved.
PS. And also about Iraq.
Recently, the US announced that it would end its military mission in Iraq and withdraw its troops. This is, of course, caused by a well-known law passed under pressure from the Shiite factions after the assassination of Soleimani. Despite numerous attempts to cancel or disavow it, the United States did not succeed. Therefore, the strategy had to be changed.The bases and military equipment are transferred to the Iraqi army, the remaining forces are relocated to Iraqi Kurdistan, and their very status will formally change to "advisers and instructors", so there is no talk of a complete withdrawal from Iraq.
The United States is not abandoning its attempts to undermine Iranian influence in the country, but now it will rely on attempts to oppose the government to Shiite factions, as well as to cause a rift between pro-Iranian groups and Sadrists.
This will ensure that the US-Iranian hybrid war on Iraqi territory continues (both the US strikes on Hashd Shaabi and Iranian proxy attacks on US bases and convoys), and the local government remains dependent on the course of this war. At the same time, both Iran and the United States will strive to establish such a government in Iraq, which would definitely take the side of Tehran or Washington and put pressure on the opponent.
In the case of the United States, a right-wing military dictatorship led by some general in the spirit of Al-Sisi, who is not afraid to start a civil war against the Shiite militias.
In the case of Iran, the sovereignty of the Shiite bloc and the Shiite prime minister loyal to Tehran with the purge of cadres loyal to the United States and the complete expulsion of any American and NATO presence from Iraq.
In light of the threat of a breakdown in negotiations on the resumption of the nuclear deal, it cannot be ruled out that in the foreseeable future, Iraq will face serious shocks caused by this hybrid war on its territory.