Operations to take Mosul from Daesh (ISIS) are well underway, with casualties on both sides. Less expectedly, some journalists have been killed too.
Today, Al Sumaria cameraman Ali Risan was killed by a Daesh sniper near Mosul. On Friday, another Iraqi journalist was killed by Daesh sniper fire during an attack by the militant group on Kirkuk. The attack on Kirkuk has been described by some as an effort by Daesh to divert attention from the battle for Mosul.
Many of the frontlines in the battle for Mosul are full of journalists. Though they often wear protective gear, Daesh sniper fire remains a particularly grave threat to journalists and soldiers alike.
Operations to retake Mosul began early Monday morning. Led by the Iraqi army, the mission further includes the Peshmerga (military of Iraqi Kurdistan), Popular Mobilization Units (largely Shia militias), al-hashd al-watani (Turkish-backed Sunni militias) and the US-led anti-Daesh coalition.
