MOSUL, Iraq — As the battle continues for the liberation of the remainder of Mosul from the Islamic State (IS), forces answering to the Interior Ministry have been playing more of a central role than those under the Defense Ministry.

Al-Monitor was told while visiting the front in western Mosul in mid-March that the army, under whose authority fighting wars would normally fall, has acted more as a holding force in many areas.

Given the extent to which gains have relied on intelligence and communication with local informants, and possibly due to lingering distrust in the ability of the army to deal with the threat after many personnel abandoned their positions and reportedly left behind thousands of Humvees in 2014 when the city was first taken by IS, this may not be as surprising as it might in other contexts.

Casualties are rising among the federal police, however, and several members were reportedly captured by IS after they ran out of ammunition March 20. A ministry official told Al-Monitor that the men had been killed, but denied that they had been captured prior to their death.