BAGHDAD: The battle to retake west Mosul from the Daesh group has pushed more than 45,000 people to flee, the International Organization for Migration said on Sunday.
Iraqi forces launched a major push to recapture west Mosul from Daesh on February 19, retaking the airport and then pushing up into the city from the south.
The IOM figures indicate the number of people who came from west Mosul to sites for the displaced from February 25, when the arrivals began, through Sunday.
More than 17,000 people arrived from west Mosul on February 28 alone, while over 13,000 came on March 3, according to the IOM.
Daesh overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes and other support have since regained most of the territory they lost.
Iraqi forces launched the operation to recapture Mosul on October 17, retaking its eastern side in January before setting their sights on the smaller but more densely-populated west.
While the feared exodus of a million or more people from Mosul has yet to materialize, the IOM says that more than 200,000 are currently displaced as a result of the operation, while more fled but later returned to their homes.
Over 45,000 displaced by west Mosul fighting: IOM
Over 45,000 displaced by west Mosul fighting: IOM
King of Jordan praises Europe’s solidarity with Arab countries amid Iranian attacks
- King Abdullah warns of the danger of US-Israeli conflict with Iran spreading to stable Arab countries
- He commends efforts by the Iraqi government to deescalate and mitigate tensions in the region
LONDON: King Abdullah praised Europe on Monday for the solidarity it has shown with Jordan and Arab Gulf states.
Speaking during a teleconference with leaders from Egypt, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Armenia, he emphasized the need for ongoing cooperation to protect civilians and ensure calm.
Other participants included Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East following the US and Israel strikes on Iran that began on Feb. 28. Tehran retaliated by launching missile and drone attacks against several countries in the region.
King Abdullah warned of the danger of the conflict spreading to stable Arab countries and emphasized the need for diplomacy and dialogue to ease regional tensions, the Jordan News Agency reported.
He commended efforts by the Iraqi government to deescalate and mitigate tensions in the region, and warned against Israeli escalations in Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territories.
He also affirmed the continuing support of Jordan for the Lebanese people in their efforts to maintain security, stability and sovereignty.
