The economic and political dimensions of the fall of Mosul in 2014 at the hands of armed groups

Abstract

A specific city contributed to determining a unique location for its position as a meeting point of civilizations and a stage for geopolitical tensions throughout different eras. It is the crossing point between East and West, and facilitates the connection between the Arab Levant, Anatolia, and the plateau. Its geography is distinguished by the fact that it was not just a geographical detail, but rather it was a key to the specific conflicts of its long history. It added to diverse economic wealth, and it contributed to obtaining the settlement in 2014 AD. Its center was not in northern Iraq, with its agricultural, commercial, and industrial resources, in addition to its agricultural location on the banks of the Tigris River. The ownership of fertile agricultural lands and its location in the east, which is not distinguished by water and fertile lands, helped it to be a need for Iraq, as it is famous for producing a large quantity of grains in addition to the vast vegetables, as well as implementing an area for grazing and raising livestock, which makes it one of the most important sources of meat and dairy, in addition to the presence of oil and sulfur minerals in Safsaf. All of these components were ignored by the city, a focus of interest for the armed organization to announce its surveillance in June 2014 until its liberation in 2017, casting its dark shadows over its ancient heritage and crushing its cultural, civilizational and architectural landmarks, which bore witness to successive civilizations spanning centuries. This man has become a turning point in custom after history faded amidst the violence of violence and destruction.