Battle for Iraq

In late 2016, a long-awaited campaign was launched against the ISIS-dominated northern Iraq city of Mosul, waged by Iraq's army and the Kurds, with U.S. military support. Although victory has since been claimed (after this documentary was made), sporadic fighting still continues in this once-thriving city that now lies in ruins, with many of its civilians having fled. Filmmaker Olivier Sarbil's PBS-aired Frontline documentary offers a gut-wrenching look at a so-called "dirty battle against dirty people," examining the human costs and difficulties of waging warfare against a remnant of fanatic ISIS guerillas who are hidden among civilians in a densely packed city. The film explores the ideological roots of the conflict, which pitted local Sunni Muslim civilians against a Shia-dominated army they distrusted. While initially welcoming ISIS, the residents quickly became disillusioned with the harsh laws and tight control enforced by the Islamic militants—conditions that locals compared to slavery. In growing desperation against the Iraq army's advances, ISIS fought back with bomb-carrying drones, deadly roadside IEDs, and snipers hidden among the city's rubble. But the brutality runs both ways, as seen here when an Iraqi soldier spits on the headless corpse of an ISIS fighter. There is an almost surrealistic quality to daily events, as when an ISIS radio broadcast proudly features an interview with a would-be suicide bomber. And the men, women, and children who are lucky enough to reach refugee camps then must face new dangers from cold, disease, hunger, and a lack of medicine. The short accompanying companion piece Hunting ISIS will likely provoke deep empathy among viewers for the suffering of innocent civilians who are ensnared in this brutal, seemingly endless war. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)