on the mosque, a symbolic price for them to because that is the mosque where islamic state was - bylaimed by a dowdy an00 baggdadi. but also because it is in the old city. these troops are now very, very close to fully recapturing mosul, although, they are also keenly aware that this last phase of this battle for mosul will be the most dangerous for them, because the layout of the alleys,y narrow which makes it difficult to navigate and maneuver but also because of the presence of civilians, but there is really the sense in and amongst iraqi troops that genuine progress has been made and that a full victory is quite near at this point. although, as you mentioned, there still is a very fierce resistance being put out by the jihadists, many of whom are natives of mosul. they know the city very well, and they are using every weapon in their arsenals to try to push back as much as possible. although at this point, this seems more than likely for them, given the kinds of things we have been seeing played out throughout the city. andt's a last stand battle a battle with an enemy that has very l