Mosul fighting rages as ISIS could lose capitol

Mosul, Iraq,was one of the first cities thatISIScaptured in its reign of terror. Now, in a rare sign of unity, a coalition of government forces and local groups (including Christians, Kurds, and Shia) are pushing to reclaim one of the terrorist group's final strongholds.

ISIS fighters in Mosul are outnumbered

One of the major things theIraqicoalition has going for it is sheer numbers. There are currently 108,500 fighters on the Iraqi side compared to 5,000ISISfighters, many of which are fleeing according to reports from the front.

More importantly,Iraqiforces have come prepared for a fight. This isn't like the timeISIStookMosulwhere the government forces were in disarray, some of whom, particularlySunni Muslims who felt disaffected by theIraqigovernment's policies that were designed to punish them for the actions ofSaddam Hussein defected to the terrorist group.They came to fight.

The fighters consist largely ofIraqisecurity special forces, a small amount of U.S. air support and tactical adviser,Kurdishfighters (called peshmerga) and militias of Christians and other religious minorities who have been persecuted byISIS.

Though they come from different backgrounds, they all intend to driveISISout ofMosul by any means necessary. It is one of the first operations of its kind inIraq'shistory.

ISIS is prepared to fight for Mosul

Though the operation is progressing faster than expected according to officials. it's still not going to be easy to retakeMosul.ISIShas laid bombs all over the areas leading into the city and villages surrounding it. They have also resorted to suicide bombing by driving trucks loaded with explosives into coalition positions.

Most of these failed. Though one American serviceman has been reported dead.

A Twitter account calledMosul Eyeis reporting thatISISis digging in. The terrorist group is demanding SIM cards and has been moving POWs to military targets as hostages. They've been destroying government buildings inMosul and have been recruiting foreign fighters.