Unexploded Ordnance: Mosul’s Silent Enemy After ISIS’s Fall

The brutal fight to liberate Mosul from ISIS is over, but a dangerous legacy of bombs and booby-traps threatens the city’s future, demanding years of painstaking clearance.

The echoes of battle in Mosul, Iraq, have largely faded, replaced by the grim reality of a city scarred by conflict and left behind with a perilous inheritance. While ISIS was ousted from its largest urban stronghold after a grueling ten-month offensive, the departure of the militant group has unearthed a new, insidious danger: the widespread presence of landmines, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and unexploded ordnance (UXO) that litter the cityscape. This hidden threat poses a significant obstacle to the city’s recovery, jeopardizing the safety of returning residents and hindering the resumption of normal life for years to come.

Special correspondent Marcia Biggs, reporting from Mosul, paints a stark picture of the devastation and the ongoing, arduous task of making the city safe. The once-thriving Mosul Technical Institute, a hub for thousands of students, now stands as a testament to the conflict’s destructive power, its classrooms reduced to rubble and its laboratories shattered. Yet, beyond the visible destruction, the insidious presence of IEDs, meticulously laid by ISIS fighters, represents a more enduring and potentially lethal challenge.

“This is the wire, and this is where it was buried,” explains Christian, a team leader with Janus Global Operations, a security and risk management firm hired by the U.S. government to clear these explosive remnants. His team’s work is a dangerous, meticulous process of excavating and rendering safe devices hidden beneath asphalt and within the very fabric of the city. The scale of the problem is immense, with Christian noting, “There’s actually two more on that road before we get to the target building that have to be excavated and/or rendered safe.”

The United States has committed substantial resources, investing $30 million this year alone into clearing former ISIS territories across Northern Iraq. Through programs like the one Janus Global is implementing, thousands of IEDs have been removed – a staggering 3,000 by Janus from 727 buildings. However, officials and experts acknowledge that the sheer volume of unexploded ordnance in Mosul itself is unprecedented, presenting a monumental task that could extend for years, if not decades.

Context & Background

Mosul, once the de facto capital of ISIS’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Iraq, endured a brutal period under militant control. The city was captured by ISIS in June 2014 and served as a strategic and ideological center for the group. The ensuing battle for its liberation, launched in October 2016 by Iraqi security forces with support from a U.S.-led coalition, was one of the most intense urban warfare campaigns in recent history. The fighting resulted in widespread destruction, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents and causing thousands of casualties.

During their occupation, ISIS transformed public infrastructure into military strongholds and weapon manufacturing sites. The Mosul Technical Institute, for instance, was not only a target during the battle due to its potential use by militants but also because it was reportedly used by ISIS to manufacture mines and bombs. Dean Ghassan Alubaidy of the institute stated, “ISIS used our university to manufacture mines and bombs. For this reason, it was the target of airstrikes in the beginning. They struck the institute nine times, and they struck our workshops, too.” This dual role as a military asset and a manufacturing hub meant that areas formerly occupied by ISIS were likely to be heavily fortified with explosives and subjected to significant aerial bombardment, leaving behind a complex mixture of legacy ordnance and battle-damaged remnants.

The deliberate use of IEDs by ISIS was a hallmark of their tactics. These homemade bombs were often integrated into the urban environment, turning everyday objects and locations into potential traps. Christian, the Janus Global team leader, described the calculated nature of these devices: “Whoever made this device had a set goal. And to allow him to win, people get hurt.” This meant that even after the fighting ceased, the danger persisted, making a triumphant return for residents a perilous prospect.

The post-liberation efforts to reclaim and rebuild Mosul are intrinsically linked to the success of de-mining and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) operations. The United States, through agencies like the Department of State, has been a major financial and logistical supporter of these efforts, recognizing that the physical safety of the population is a prerequisite for any meaningful reconstruction or stabilization.

In-Depth Analysis

The sheer scale of the explosive threat in Mosul presents a multi-faceted challenge. Janus Global’s approach prioritizes community infrastructure, aiming to restore essential services like schools, power, and water before focusing on individual homes. This strategy acknowledges that re-establishing the conditions for daily life is crucial for the city’s recovery. As Christian explains, “Our priority is more the community, rather than the individual, you know, infrastructure. You have got schools, power, sewer, water, so that the area can accept people back into it.” This phased approach underscores the long-term commitment required.

The training of local Iraqi personnel is a critical component of the de-mining strategy. Recognizing that international teams cannot remain indefinitely, Janus Global is actively building the capacity of Iraqi counterparts, such as Fawzi al Nabdi and his team from Al Fahad Company. Al Nabdi, with six years of experience in clearing mines across Iraq, emphasizes the collaborative nature of the work: “The Americans are here to complete our work and to help us. They have greater experience than we do. If we find any mines, we have to stop and they will investigate it and make a plan to remove it.” This partnership is vital for ensuring the sustainability of EOD efforts and empowering local communities to reclaim their safety.

However, the legacy of ISIS’s weapon manufacturing also complicates the clearance process. Areas identified as high-value targets by the coalition, such as the workshops at the Mosul Technical Institute, are now twice as likely to contain dangerous items due to both direct strikes and the residual materials or devices left behind by ISIS. The discovery of bomb-making instructions among the rubble of the institute further illustrates the extent to which these educational facilities were repurposed by the militants.

The situation in West Mosul, particularly the densely packed Old City, poses an even greater challenge. This area bore the brunt of the final offensive and remains largely inaccessible to civilians due to the overwhelming concentration of mines and IEDs. The tragic incident where a man and his two children were killed upon returning to their home highlights the immediate and devastating impact of these hidden dangers. The current absence of a comprehensive plan to clear the Old City, which remains out of bounds for residents, underscores the enormity of the task ahead.

The psychological impact of living in a city riddled with explosives cannot be overstated. Even as efforts to clear the city progress, the fear and uncertainty associated with the potential presence of unexploded ordnance continue to affect the lives of Mosul’s residents. The dean’s account of students eagerly awaiting the resumption of classes, dreaming of “the first day of classes, when they could sit in front of teachers again and start to live their lives again,” speaks to a profound desire for normalcy and a future free from the shadow of war and its lingering dangers.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Dedicated Funding and Expertise: The U.S. government’s investment of $30 million and the deployment of specialized firms like Janus Global bring crucial resources and expertise to the de-mining efforts.
• Capacity Building for Locals: Training Iraqi teams is essential for long-term safety and self-sufficiency in explosive ordnance disposal.
• Prioritization of Essential Infrastructure: Focusing on schools, power, and water aims to restore basic services, facilitating the return of residents and the resumption of community life.
• Resilience of the Population: The strong desire of students to return to education, as evidenced by their eagerness to resume classes at the Mosul Technical Institute and Mosul University, demonstrates a powerful will to rebuild.
• Strategic Targeting of ISIS Facilities: Coalition airstrikes on known ISIS weapon manufacturing sites, while causing damage, aimed to disrupt their capacity, potentially reducing the number of subsequently deployed devices.

Cons:

• Unprecedented Scale of Ordnance: The sheer volume of IEDs and UXO in Mosul presents a logistical and operational challenge that may take years, if not decades, to fully address.
• Densely Populated Urban Environment: Clearing mines in built-up areas like the Old City is significantly more complex and dangerous than in open terrain.
• Lack of Comprehensive Plan for Certain Areas: The Old City, a critical part of Mosul, currently lacks a clear plan for clearance and remains off-limits to residents.
• Continued Risk to Civilians: Despite clearance efforts, accidental detonations continue to pose a fatal threat to residents attempting to return or navigate the city.
• Long-Term Funding Uncertainty: While current funding is significant, the long-term financial commitment required for complete clearance may face challenges.

Key Takeaways

• The battle for Mosul is over, but the danger from ISIS-laid mines and explosives is a persistent and potentially long-lasting threat.
• Specialized teams, like Janus Global Operations, are working to clear explosive remnants of war, prioritizing community infrastructure to enable safe returns.
• The United States has invested $30 million in clearing former ISIS territories in Northern Iraq, with Mosul being a significant focus.
• ISIS utilized urban infrastructure, including universities, for weapon manufacturing, leading to these sites becoming dual threats: targets of airstrikes and repositories of explosives.
• Training local Iraqi EOD teams is a critical component of the long-term strategy for ensuring Mosul’s safety.
• The densely populated Old City of Mosul presents the greatest challenge for mine-clearing operations, with no current plan in place for its systematic clearance.
• The resilience of Mosul’s population is evident in their strong desire to resume education and rebuild their lives despite the pervasive dangers.

Future Outlook

The future of Mosul hinges significantly on the success and sustainability of its explosive ordnance disposal efforts. The U.S. State Department and other international partners are crucial for providing ongoing financial and technical assistance. However, the capacity building of Iraqi forces will be paramount in the long run. The challenge extends beyond simply removing devices; it involves developing robust national and local EOD capabilities that can continue the work even after international support diminishes.

The slow and methodical process of clearing the city means that a full return to normalcy will be a gradual one. Rebuilding infrastructure, rehabilitating damaged buildings, and restoring essential services can only truly begin once large swathes of the city are deemed safe. The ambition of institutions like the Mosul Technical Institute to resume classes, even in temporary locations, signals a strong forward momentum, but this momentum is directly tied to the pace of de-mining operations.

Furthermore, the psychological recovery of the population will be intertwined with their physical safety. As long as the threat of hidden explosives persists, the psychological burden on residents, particularly those returning to their homes, will remain. Long-term community engagement and support services will be necessary to address these lingering effects of trauma and displacement.

The international community’s continued attention and commitment to post-conflict recovery in Iraq, particularly in areas heavily affected by ISIS, are vital. Beyond EOD, this includes humanitarian aid, economic reconstruction, and support for good governance. Mosul’s story is a stark reminder that the end of active combat is often just the beginning of a long and complex recovery process, where the unseen dangers can be as formidable as the visible battles.

Call to Action

The ongoing efforts to make Mosul safe are a critical step towards rebuilding a city ravaged by conflict. The work of de-mining and explosive ordnance disposal is a dangerous but essential endeavor that requires sustained international support. Individuals and organizations interested in contributing to the safety and recovery of Mosul and other post-conflict regions can support efforts by:

• Advocating for continued governmental and international funding for mine clearance programs.
• Supporting humanitarian organizations that specialize in explosive ordnance disposal and victim assistance.
• Raising awareness about the persistent threat of unexploded ordnance in conflict-affected areas.

The resilience shown by the people of Mosul in the face of such adversity is inspiring. Their ability to look towards a future of learning and rebuilding is dependent on the safety of their streets and homes, a goal that requires ongoing vigilance and dedicated action from all stakeholders.