Russian FM: IS militants may flee from Mosul to Syria

By Azernews

By Gunay Hasanova

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, commenting on the Mosul operation, stated that there is a risk that Islamic State (IS) fighters could flee from Mosul and go to Syria.

If IS fighters are allowed to leave Mosul and go to Syria, Russia would take the appropriate military and political decisions, the minister warned, Ria Novosti reported.

“We will be evaluating the situation and take decisions of both political and military nature if this happens,” he added. “I hope the US-led coalition, which is actively engaged in the operation to take Mosul, will take it into account.”

The minister also voiced Russia’s concern over the looming exodus of refugees from Mosul, which, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross may reach as many as 1 million people.

The Mosul operation was launched on Monday. The coalition, including the air forces of several nations, primarily the US, and ground forces of the Iraqi government, Kurdish and Shiite militias is involved in the siege of Mosul, the Iraqi stronghold of IS.

Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Security, Julian King warned that the operation may push “violent militants” to return to Europe, where even a small number could pose “a very serious threat”.

“Re-taking the IS stronghold in northern Iraq can lead to a scenario in which violent militants would return to Europe,” he told Die Welt. “This is a very serious threat and we must be prepared to face it.”

The terrorist organization "Islamic State" considers Mosul as its main stronghold in Iraq.

Being one of the key oil centers of Iraq, the city of Mosul went entirely under the control of the IS terrorists in June 2014. It is the second largest city of Iraq with a population of 1.3 million people. The number of IG militants concentrated in Mosul is more than 6,000 people.

The UN informs that more than 3.4 million people are now displaced in Iraq -- more than half of them children, while more than 10 million are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance.