The remaining IS fighters in the Iraqi city of Mosul now only control around half a square kilometre of land and could be finally defeated “within days”, according to the ADF.
The Defence Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral David Johnston, said it was estimated there were less than 400 fighters remaining in the Old City in western Mosul.
“The liberation of Mosul is now inevitable as Daesh continues to be squeezed in its capacity, particularly as its ability to resupply forces has greatly diminished,” he said, referring to IS by an Arabic name.
But he warned that those remaining fighters were increasingly desperate and willing to use civilians as shields, including against Coalition airstrikes, in which Australia participates.
Vice Admiral Johnson said Defence had noticed “a growing willingness by Daesh to exploit the remaining civilian population in order to restrict both the Iraqi security ground force and the Coalition air efforts.”
He said Australian and Coalition forces were making “every effort to minimise the risk of civilian casualties”.
Australian spy planes feeding intel to Filipinos on IS-linked groups
Vice Admiral Johnston said two Australian AP-3C Orion planes have been providing “surveillance information” to the Philippines, as the South East Asian nation grapples with a violent insurgency in the city of Marawi.
The two planes were deployed last month to help track the activities of groups like the Maute, which has pledged allegiance to IS.
The militants stormed the Muslim city of Marawi in May.
The city has been largely evacuated as Philippines security forces attempt to drive the fighters out of the city with heavy artillery and airstrikes.
