NINEWA: MOSUL UNDER CURFEW AFTER MASSIVE JANUARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000195 SIPDIS SIPDIS REL AUS, CAN, GBR, NZL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/24/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV EAID PREL IZ SUBJECT: NINEWA: MOSUL UNDER CURFEW AFTER MASSIVE JANUARY 23 EXPLOSION Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader Jason Hyland. Reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (U) This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message. Mosul Tense After Explosion -------------- ¶2. (C/REL ACGU) On January 23, a large explosion in the Zanjali neighborhood in northwestern Mosul killed at least 25 Iraqi civilians, 3 Iraqi Army (IA) soldiers, and wounded over 170 civilians, according to local Ministry of Health (MOH) sources. The casualty total will likely change as recovery operations continue. The vast majority of casualties are Iraqi civilians. No Americans were injured in the initial attack. Rescue/recovery efforts continued throughout the night and the IA, with Iraqi Police (IP) and Coalition Force (CF) assistance, are working to secure the area. The city is now under curfew, but the security situation appears to be under control, with the new Ninewa Operations Command Chief playing a key coordinating role. Secondary Attack Kills Police Chief -------------- ¶3. (C/REL ACGU) During follow-on security operations on January 24 in the vicinity of the bomb site, Iraqi and Coalition forces came under attack. Ninewa Provincial Director of Police (PDOP) BG Salih Mohammed Hassan was killed by a suicide bomber. The previous PDOP, MG Wathiq, will be returning to Mosul to oversee police operations, at least in the interim. Local Officials Follow Up -------------- ¶4. (C/REL ACGU) MND-N Deputy Commanding General BG Thomas, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3ACR) Commanding Officer COL Bills and PRT Leader Hyland went to Provincial Hall on January 24 to meet Ninewa Governor Duraid Kashmoula, recently appointed Ninewa Operations Command head MG Riyadh, and other senior Iraqi military commanders to discuss the incident. Kashmoula described the citizens in the vicinity as understandably angry. He said he had instructed the Provincial Government and Provincial Director Generals to provide all possible support to the affected community, including providing shelter and jobs and the restoration of essential services. He said he had also contacted the Prime Minister's Office to request immediate emergency funds and to declare the affected zone a disaster area. (Note: Both Riyadh and Kashmoula called the Prime Minister's Office and other Baghdad contacts during the meeting. End Note.) After hearing news of the killing of the Police Chief and other terrorist attacks, Governor Ka shmoula and MG Riyadh decided to enforce a curfew from 1200 January 24 and announced it over a taped televised statement. (Note: In driving through the streets of Mosul immediately after the meeting, PRT Leader observed store fronts shuttered and the streets nearly deserted. In a flyover of the area with military leaders later in the day, PRT Leader saw at least a city block in rubble, surrounded by one- and two-story houses in a poor neighborhood. There were still dozens of people at the site, even after the curfew. End Note.) PRT Partners Stepping Up to Help -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The PRT convened an emergency action committee to assist the Ninewa government and coordinate with coalition forces. USAID implementing partners, International Medical Corps (IMC) and International Relief and Development (IRD), are leading the PRT's efforts. IRD sent stocks of medical supplies to Mosul hospitals on January 23. IMC and MOH sent large quantities of needed trauma and surgical supplies to the two main Mosul hospitals. IMC is already preparing further resupply efforts in coordination with the MOH and the Iraqi Red Crescent. Based on a secondary assessment, IMC is doubling the initial resupply amount to help address longstanding undersupply issues at Mosul's major hospitals. The supplies are expected to come from the Kurdistan Region in the next 12-48 hours. 3ACR is providing all essential security support to the IA and IP. MND-N is planning to send BAGHDAD 00000195 002 OF 002 emergency material such as search dogs and engineering equipment. Comment: Quick Response Needed from GOI -------------- ¶6. (C/REL AGCU) The Iraqi Security Forces and the Provincial Government have done what they can do to take control of the situation on the ground at the site. Governor Kashmoula and MG Riyadh have both now requested assistance from the Prime Minister's office in Baghdad. The PRT has been coordinating with our Embassy colleagues to push the GOI to get aid and assistance for this crisis into Mosul as quickly as possible. (Note: The PM's office has responded positively and the Governor claimed that the PM was going to send a team up with money soon. End Note.) Much of the public's perception in the first few hours immediately after the event was shaped by rumor and an information campaign by the terrorists to make the government look weak and ineffective. By moving quickly and providing the emergency aid needed, the central GOI, along with the Provincial Government and the Iraqi Security Forces, can come out of this crisis looking stronger and more effective than ever. The PRT will continue to work closely with our military and Iraqi colleagues to help ensure that emergency assistance is provided quickly and effectively. CROCKER