IS forces will indeed feel the pressure from the destruction of the bridges and militia forces trying to seal up territory on the city’s western flank. But the fact remains that the Iraqis still have to push through a lot of urban terrain where IS has the upper hand. By no means is the advance of the Iraqi forces a linear process. Thus, we are looking at a protracted battle that may very well run through the winter and into the spring. To read more about the current status of the battle for Mosul, see our recent Reality Check.
The Geopolitics of the American President