awkward coalition rive political sectarian differences face elusive fanatical enemy dig urban maze narrow streets alleyways could iraq government really deliver vow vanquish islamic state end army shi ite muslim paramilitaries kurdish peshmerga fighters muster rare unity end islamic state reign terror iraq second city mosul seat ultra-hardline sunni insurgents caliphate baghdad victory july 2017 nine months fight coup de grace caliphate come three years jihadist juggernaut seize one third iraq even supportive u.s. air strike baghdad triumph come devastate cost once-vibrant multicultural city northern iraq surround region islamic state militants first arrive mosul june 2014 sweep aside crumble iraqi army units many mosul residents initially welcome militants sunni muslims like many mosul accuse force then-shi ite prime minister nuri al-maliki widespread sectarian abuse islamic state consequently present mosul savior jihadists brandish ak-47 assault rifle begin impose islamist doctrine even brutal mediaeval al qaeda popularity soon fade maliki successor haider al-abadi long see ineffective leader could make tough decisions however u.s.-backed campaign mosul offer abadi chance emerge steely statesman capable take group terrorize sprawl city behead public square stag deadly attack west smoke one cigarette act saw anti-islamic earn dozens lash children use informers women minority communities turn sex slave take back mosul never go easy long first shoot fire abadi advisers military commanders tread cautiously take account sectarian ethnic sensitivities could splinter unite front urgently need establish iraqi kurdish intelligence agencies recruit informers inside mosul ex-soldiers army officer taxi drivers would face instant execution catch even alliance convenience strike gloss sectarian split mosul pose formidable physical obstacles key district consist ancient little streets alleyways inaccessible tank armor vehicles densely populate u.s.-led coalition air strike risk heavy civilian casualties street street house house fight unavoidable challenge first pop mosul hinterland kurdish force slowly advance fierce resistance one village single sniper hunker house hold hundreds kurdish fighters u.s. special force advise 40 vehicles eventually rifle go silent three air strike house pro-government force inch forward unite nations warn possible humanitarian disaster express fear jihadists could seize civilians use human shield gun anyone try escape fighters iraqis foreigners experts carry suicide bomb assemble homemade bomb many house booby-trapped iraqi military commanders factor lurk peril gameplan interview insurgents shed light iraqi force quite open ideology will transform middle east one man say use rape weapon war 200 women iraqi minorities kill 500 people months grueling fight iraqi force finally attain outskirts mosul celebrations premature bomb litter dusty roads car bomb explode mosul resident explain child long flinch explosions shake street many people include young grow numb daily bloodshed side resort desperate measure gain edge north mosul people walk fly-infested bloat corpses militants leave roadsides two weeks iraqi soldier explain stink body leave send clear message residents join suffer fate catch middle civilians suffer reign terror three years wonder would survive relentless battle liberate parent wait patiently weeks fight largely unknowable right moment make dash iraqi government line clutch children risk run-in jihadists place far away chechnya much east west mosul pulverize coalition air strike truck car bomb city reduce row row collapse gutted house end suffer decisive defeat watch self-proclaimed caliphate evaporate iraq syria kurdish-led force retake raqqa urban stronghold victories follow tough question future iraq syria preserve shaky understand forge different communities run-up mosul campaign essential save iraq state future take long mosul coalition fray october iraqi force dislodge kurdish peshmerga fighters oil city kirkuk dispute areas baghdad impose curb air travel semi-autonomous kurdistan region retaliation kurdish independence referendum hold northern iraq september battle raqqa become operational base syria different feel u.s.-backed kurds arabs syrian democratic force sdf tighten siege fight seem slow measure step step along abandon streets journalists give access weeks raqqa fall october young female sdf fighters face harden militants suffer losses curb enthusiasm say would eventually like join kurdish pkk militants turkey help advance 33-year-old insurgency victors iraq syria face new challenge rebuild cities shatter showdown defeat raqqa raqqa residents form council run city budget first set residents stream tin run-down headquarter demand everything instant job get damage farmland back syrian kurdish fighters inspire ideas abdullah ocalan head pkk militants imprison turkey almost 20 years turkey view political rise syria kurds threat national security fiercely oppose idea kurdish autonomy doorstep kurdish group lead fight islamic state former capital raqqa must navigate complex peace avoid ethnic tension city arab majority secure critical u.s. aid life raqqa victors remain fraught risk battle islamic state