The Battle For Mosul And The Risk Of Genocide In Iraq

Iraqi special forces vehicles move as an airstrike hits an Islamic State militant position on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Heavy fighting erupted in the eastern neighborhoods of Mosul on Friday as Iraqi special forces launched an assault deeper into the urban areas of the city and swung round to attack Islamic State militants from a second entry point, to the northeast.
Iraqi special forces vehicles move as an airstrike hits an Islamic State militant position on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Heavy fighting erupted in the eastern neighborhoods of Mosul on Friday as Iraqi special forces launched an assault deeper into the urban areas of the city and swung round to attack Islamic State militants from a second entry point, to the northeast. Marko Drobnjakovic / AP Photo
Iraqi special forces vehicles move as an airstrike hits an Islamic State militant position on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Heavy fighting erupted in the eastern neighborhoods of Mosul on Friday as Iraqi special forces launched an assault deeper into the urban areas of the city and swung round to attack Islamic State militants from a second entry point, to the northeast.
Iraqi special forces vehicles move as an airstrike hits an Islamic State militant position on the outskirts of Mosul, Iraq, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016. Heavy fighting erupted in the eastern neighborhoods of Mosul on Friday as Iraqi special forces launched an assault deeper into the urban areas of the city and swung round to attack Islamic State militants from a second entry point, to the northeast. Marko Drobnjakovic / AP Photo

The Battle For Mosul And The Risk Of Genocide In Iraq

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Iraqi troops have entered the city of Mosul for the first time in two years, and the Iraqi flag is now flying over many neighborhoods in the city which has been under the control of ISIS.

As the troops made their way in, the leader of the Islamic state released an audio tape, calling for his men to “make rivers of their blood” after ISIS has already been accused of carrying out genocide and crimes against humanity in the region.

Now there is concern that other groups might do the same in retaliation. Naomi Kikoler is the director of the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC. She joins us to talk about what’s happened in Iraq and what’s at stake as the Mosul offensive moves forward.