Timeline of the Battle of Mosul (2016–17): Phase One

The following is a timeline of Phase one of the Battle of Mosul (2016–17) between October and December 2016.

October: Initial advances 16–17 October

On 16 October 2016, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared the beginning of the assault to recapture the city of Mosul. Officials reported howitzers firing on ISIL targets later that day. The main assault began on 17 October at approximately 6a.m., local time, with shelling and the arrival of armored vehicles to the front lines.Iraqi Forces Attack Mosul, Seeking to Dislodge Islamic State The New York Times (16 October 2016) The Peshmerga in the Khazir region, east of Mosul, started the ground assault by advancing on ISIL-held villages from three fronts, while Iraqi security forces advanced from the south.Iraq's Kurdish forces launch fresh push east of Mosul Deccan Chronicle (17 October 2016) Iraqi troops advanced on the Bartella area east of Mosul while ISIL fighters fired mortars at Peshmerga. The President of KRG, Massoud Barzani, said that Peshmerga and Iraqi government fighters retook 200 square kilometers (80 square miles) from ISIL on the first day of fighting. Iraqi government officials reported that "heavy losses of life and equipment" were inflicted upon ISIL fighters in the Hamdaniya district southeast of Mosul. ISIL fighters who were wounded in the battle were reported to have been bussed towards its Syrian headquarters of Raqqa for medical aid. The anti-ISIL coalition destroyed 52 targets during the day. Family members of ISIL fighters fled from Mosul to the village of Nawran due to the shelling. It was also reported that some fighters had started shaving their beards and were getting rid of their Afghan uniforms. ISIL was also reported to have evacuated and shifted its headquarters from the west side of Mosul to its east side. A bridge into Mosul known as the "Freedom Bridge" was destroyed. Peshmerga sources blamed ISIL for its destruction, while ISIL claimed it was destroyed by airstrikes.

18 October

On 18 October, the Iraqi government declared that twenty villages near Mosul were captured from ISIL in the first 24 hours of fighting by the Peshmerga and Iraqi forces. On the southern front, Iraqi troops retook several villages near Qayyarah, including al-Sirt, Bajwaniya, al-Hud, and al-Mashraf, and parts of the al-Hamdaniya District southeast of Mosul. Iraqi Federal Police also regained control of 56 oilfields in the Qayyarah district. According to reports, the Peshmerga met little resistance on the eastern front, while Iraqi and PMF fighters coming from the south were facing tougher resistance from ISIL.

The coalition strategy was reported to be to encircle Mosul completely, after which Iraqi troops would advance into the city-center. Early in the day on 18 October, Iraqi forces in the east came close to Qaraqosh (Bakhdida), once the largest Assyrian town in Iraq, and fighters in the south were closing in on Hammam al-'Alil. Iraqi Army forces later stormed Qaraqosh and fought with ISIL fighters who remained holed up. The Iraqi and Peshmerga advance had been slowed down during the same day due to suicide bombers, roadside IEDs and oil fires. In order to eliminate any ISIL presence completely from the villages on the outskirts of the city, they were carrying out street-by-street search operations. The Peshmerga later paused their advance while the Iraqi Army continued its advance.

Pro-government fighters in the south of Mosul were battling pockets of ISIL fighters and snipers as they tried to reclaim the village of Abbasi, and expected to soon take control of the village of Zawiya. Fighting resumed in the village of Kani Harami, which was captured by the Iraqi Army a day earlier but recaptured by ISIL on 18 October as the Army lacked reinforcements. The Army also retook the village of Al-Hud on the Tigris, where villagers had risen up against ISIL and killed at least 9 militants. State police also secured the Al-Mishraq sulfur plant south of Mosul. The al-Shura district was stated by its mayor to have been captured by the Iraqi security forces. Joint airstrikes by Iraqi and coalition warplanes on ISIL headquarters in Mosul destroyed 13 targets and killed 35 militants.

As the Iraqi Army advanced on Mosul, rebellion against ISIL broke out in the city. The group's Islamic Police revolted and attacked four headquarters of the organisation. The revolt was put down with 7 rebellious leaders being killed and many militants being executed. A group of rebels attacked a headquarters of the group the next day, killed 2 militants and raised the Iraqi flag over the building. ISIL patrols in the city were also attacked.

19 October

The Iraqi Army resumed fighting on 19 October, surrounding Qaraqosh with ISIL deploying snipers and car bombs. Lt. Gen. Qassim al-Maliki declared that Iraqi forces had captured 13 villages north and northeast of Al Quwayr, south of Mosul. The Iraqi Army was also reported to be within from the outskirts of Mosul. The village of Kani Harami was captured after heavy fighting in the morning with the militants retreating to Abbasiyah. A total of 22 towns were reported to have been captured, with 12 by the Peshmerga and 10 by the ISF. Nofal Hammadi, governor of the Nineveh Governorate, declared that 40% of the province had been retaken from ISIL.

The offensive to retake the town of Bashiqa northeast of Mosul, originally scheduled for dawn, was delayed due to lack of logistical support. Thousands of Peshmerga were reportedly preparing to retake Bashiqa. The international coalition's commander Gary Voelsky also stated that a majority of ISIL leaders were fleeing Mosul and predicted foreign fighters would form the majority of militants remaining in the city.

20 October The fighting grew more intense on 20 October. A large convoy of Golden Division arrived at positions retaken by the Peshmerga forces. They also captured Bartella. ISIL fighters detonated 9 truck bombs during the fighting. According to Maj. Gen. Maan al-Saadi of the Iraqi Army, 200 ISIL fighters were killed in the fight for Bartella.

The Peshmerga and NPF also announced a "large-scale operation" to the north and northeast of Mosul, aiming to retake the Assyrian towns of Tesqopa and Bashiqa. During the day, the Peshmerga captured 6 villages, including 4 on the Bashiqa front line and 2 on the Nawaran front. In addition, they also entered another 4 villages. They briefly captured the village of Tiz Khirab but were forced to withdraw. On the southern front, Iraqi forces resumed their push north after a brief pause and recaptured six villages east of Qayyarah.

ISIL also set Al-Mishraq sulfur plant on fire, causing two deaths and nearly 1,000 hospitalizations from sulfur fume inhalation. An ISIL ambush near Bashiqa left dozens of Peshmerga dead or wounded. The group was also reported to be digging trenches to slow the advancement of coalition troops.

21 October ISIL launched multiple attacks in Kirkuk on 21 October to divert military resources. Multiple explosions and gun battles in the city, mostly centered on a government compound were reported. A senior Peshmerga commander said that attackers had entered by posing as IDPs. Iraqi government forces meanwhile reported that they had retaken 2 more villages south of Mosul and killed 15 militants.

22 October On 22 October, Iraqi police declared that ISIL's attack on Kirkuk had been repelled and all attackers had been killed or had blown themselves up. Iraqi officials also stated that 80 people were killed in Kirkuk, primarily Kurdish security forces, and about 170 wounded; 56 ISIL militants were also killed. A reporter of Türkmeneli TV also died in the attack, while at least seven journalists were wounded.

A large-scale offensive began to retake the Assyrian town of Qaraqosh which remained under ISIL control after several days of fighting. Iraqi troops also advanced on the town of Tel Keppe, north of Mosul. Shifting winds sent the gas from the ablaze Al Mishraq sulphur plant to Qayyarah Airfield West, where U.S. and coalition forces were forced to use gas masks. A journalist was also killed by a sniper in the al-Shura area.

Blogger Mosul Eye reported that ISIL had executed detainees and teens aged 15–18 comprised the majority of ISIL fighters in Mosul. The group was also reported to have planted bombs and booby traps throughout the city and was preparing for battle.

23–24 October The Peshmerga claimed on 23 October that they had recaptured Bashiqa, however it was reported on the following day that they were still trying to capture it with the help of the Turkish military. The Peshmerga General Command also stated that Peshmerga had cordoned off 8 villages and had secured a significant stretch of the Bashiqa-Mosul highway. It also stated that they were now within of the city.

ISIL increased its counterattacks in order to distract the pro-government advancing towards Mosul. In addition to the attack on Kirkuk on 21 October, ISIL fighters struck Ar-Rutbah as well as Sinjar. Yazidi provincial chief Mahma Xelil said that at least 15 ISIL fighters were killed and two Peshmerga wounded in a two-hour battle in Sinjar. ISIL claimed its forces destroyed two Peshmerga vehicles, killing all on board. Nearly 800 ISIL fighters had been killed while 78 villages were reported to have been retaken from the group as of 24 October. The attack on Kirkuk was also brought to an end by 24 October, with 74 militants being killed and others, including the leader of the attackers, being arrested.

25 October

Iraqi Special Operations Forces, advancing on Mosul from the east of the city, were reported to be within of the city and were pausing to wait for reinforcements before proceeding. Turkish military supporting the Peshmerga destroyed several ISIL targets in the Bashiqa region of Northern Iraq. ISIL also used the burning oil trenches to impede the visibility of the Iraqi Air Force and international coalition air force and executed 9 deserters.

26 October

Iraqi forces were met with heavy resistance from ISIL as they attempted to clear the militants from villages in Shora, south of Mosul. Hundreds of ISIL suicide bombers were reported to have been sent from Syria to defend Mosul.

Meanwhile, Peshmerga forces captured the village of Derk, northeast of Mosul, where they discovered a large ISIL tunnel containing a large cache of weapons. Stephen Townsend, the commander of US forces in Iraq, stated that coalition forces had delivered more than 2,100 aerial bombs, artillery and mortar shells, rockets and missiles since the offensive to retake Mosul started. The Iraqi government stated that 57 Iraqi soldiers had been killed and about 250 wounded while 20 to 30 Peshmerga fighters are thought to have been killed.

27 October Captain Fahd al-Laithi of Iraq's National Information Agency stated that 13 militants were killed in a coalition airstrike that targeted an IS concentration in the Hamam al-Alil district while Iraqi forces had managed to retake 2 villages to the south of Mosul., Anadolu Agency, 27 October 2016 The head of the United States Central Command, Gen. Joseph Votel stated that 800–900 militants had been killed in the battle.

28 October