DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — Mosul, once Iraq’s second most populous city, is divided by the Tigris River, but its parks, bridges and walking paths along the river help east blend with west. Mosul was able to survive all the battles and upheavals of Iraq — until it was occupied by the Islamic State (IS).
IS captured the city in June 2014 and remained there for three years. It was finally ousted in July by the Iraqi army and Kurdish forces, with the air support of an international coalition. True, IS was totally eliminated there, but nothing remained of historic Mosul except rubble. As much as 80% of the city was leveled by aerial bombings. The people of Mosul are now crying for their dead relatives and friends while officials try to accommodate the living.
