Civilian victims of mortar, sniper fire pour into Mosul clinic

Iraqi military medics rushed a man whose mouth had been blown apart by mortar shrapnel into their temporary field clinic on the eastern edges of Mosul.

They bandaged the wound and gave him morphine as he gasped in pain, bleeding profusely onto a camp bed laid out in the courtyard of an abandoned home.

Seconds later, a boy with a large hole in his leg and one arm peppered with cuts from a shell blast was brought in on a stretcher. "That's already more than 30 people wounded today," a medic said. "And two dead."

An injured man receives treatment by Iraqi special forces soldiers in Mosul, Iraq November 22, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
An injured man receives treatment by Iraqi special forces soldiers in Mosul, Iraq November 22, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

All the victims are from areas closer to the center of Mosul and which Iraqi forces recaptured from Islamic State two weeks ago - but which they have sometimes struggled to secure as civilians remain within the range of the jihadists' mortar and sniper fire.

Black armored vehicles sped into the clinic run by the elite Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) throughout the morning, ferrying in the casualties - an elderly man shot through the knee, another with a leg wound, a girl hit in the chest.

U.S.-backed forces fighting to drive Islamic State out of Mosul, the militant group's Iraqi stronghold, are facing stiff resistance from fighters using car bombs and human shields to slow their advance.

"Most casualties here are civilians," medic Mohammed, 23, said at the clinic in the Kokjali area. "Islamic State shell randomly or target civilians with mortar and sniper fire. Most of the wounded are from mortars."

A Reuters correspondent also saw a wounded soldier brought back from the front line a few kilometers (miles) to the west.

Mortar shells fired by Islamic State landed intermittently in the area while the medics from the CTS forces treated the wounded.

"Part of the problem is securing the areas the special forces have taken," Mohammed said. "If bigger army units or the federal police came in to clear the areas behind where CTS have advanced, maybe fewer people would be getting hurt, and it would make our job easier."

Reuters

Other News

Vietnam, US strengthen cooperation to ease suffering of AO/dioxin victims

Vietnam, US strengthen cooperation to ease suffering of AO/dioxin victims

A delegation from the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin's chapter in Ho Chi Minh City (VAVA HCMC) visited the US directly inform American friends about the long-term consequences of AO/dioxin in Vietnam and seek the support of progressive groups, veterans, legal experts and youth organisations in efforts to care for the victims.

Indonesia earthquake death toll rises, 2,000 evacuated

Indonesia earthquake death toll rises, 2,000 evacuated

The earthquake struck off Flores Island near Mbay town in Nagekeo district, East Nusa Tenggara province, triggering strong aftershocks. Several houses and other structures were damaged, while landslides disrupted roads in some areas.

Indian Embassy thanks Vietnam for support after Phu Quoc boat tragedy

Indian Embassy thanks Vietnam for support after Phu Quoc boat tragedy

The embassy said on its official X account that the flight carrying the victims' mortal remains departed Ho Chi Minh City on July 13 and arrived in Mumbai later the same day. Authorities in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu coordinated the transportation of the remains to their final destinations.

Vietnamese community in Venezuela backs rescue team on humanitarian mission

Vietnamese community in Venezuela backs rescue team on humanitarian mission

All members of the Vietnamese rescue team in Venezuela have maintained strict discipline, a strong sense of responsibility and unwavering focus when carrying out search, rescue and disaster recovery tasks, with the determination to successfully fulfil the international humanitarian mission entrusted by the Party, State and military.

Key issues ex high agenda at the ASEAN Future Forum 2026

Key issues ex high agenda at the ASEAN Future Forum 2026

PSNews - Nearly six decades after its founding, ASEAN is entering a new phase of transformation. Geopolitical turbulence, intensifying competition among major powers, non-traditional security challenges, and rapid technological change are raising fundamental questions about the region’s future trajectory. In this context, the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2026 is more than a platform for regional countries to discuss current issues; it is designed to identify strategic pathways for ASEAN in the years ahead.

Malaysia bans social media accounts for children under 16

Malaysia bans social media accounts for children under 16

Under the new rules, social media platforms are required to implement age-verification systems and prevent users under 16 from creating accounts. The regulations apply to platforms with at least eight million users in Malaysia, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Cambodia ranked world's top country for natural environment in 2026

Cambodia ranked world's top country for natural environment in 2026

Cambodia currently manages 73 protected natural areas covering more than seven million hectares, equivalent to about 41% of the country’s total land area. These protected areas play a vital role in forest conservation, wildlife habitat protection and biodiversity preservation through stricter law enforcement and conservation measures.

ASEAN chief spotlights Vietnam’s role in shaping bloc’s future

ASEAN chief spotlights Vietnam’s role in shaping bloc’s future

Vietnam is expected to maintain active contributions across ASEAN’s three pillars - the political-security community, the economic community, and the socio-cultural community; while further enhancing regional connectivity through infrastructure projects and stronger economic linkages.

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Vietnam supports UNESCO's people-centred approach, multilateral cooperation: official

Van affirmed Vietnam’s support for the UNESCO80 reform roadmap, focusing on the organisation’s core mandate, priority areas, interdisciplinary approach, and the special status of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and UNESCO representative offices, alongside efforts to diversify resources and strengthen global partnerships to enhance the organisation’s effectiveness.