As Iraqi forces draw closer to the outskirts of Mosul, there have been popular uprisings against the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) in various parts of the city.

Local officials on Monday (July 18th) confirmed that violent clashes recently erupted in southern Mosul between ISIL elements and hundreds of youth opposed to the group.

According to Ninawa provincial council member Abdel Rahman al-Wakaa, incidents first broke out in al-Qayyarah area, where a number of youth set fire to the homes of ISIL elements, and soon spread to Hammam al-Alil area where armed clashes took place.

"The rebellious youth forced many of the terrorists to retreat and withdraw from the battle arena," al-Wakaa told Diyaruna.

"Matters have gotten out of control for ISIL, which is currently in a state of real decline," he said. "ISIL's domination and influence over the local population in al-Qayyarah and Hammam al-Alil have waned drastically."

The people have begun to disregard ISIL's many rulings and fatwas in the city, he said, "as men have begun smoking cigarettes in public and are not wearing the clothes imposed upon them by ISIL, and women have taken off the niqab".

The advance of the security forces from the south and arrival at the outskirts of al-Qayyarah encouraged people to take up arms and rise up against ISIL, he said.

Residents seek revenge

Ninawa provincial council member Ali Khudair said the uprising mounted by residents in al-Qayyarah and Hammam al-Alil is a "message of moral backing and support for the government forces advancing to liberate Mosul".

When the army reached the outskirts of the city, residents burned ISIL headquarters, engaged in armed clashes with ISIL fighters and forced many to flee, Khudair said.

ISIL subjected "residents to all forms of repression and persecution, killing no less than 5,000 people in the past two years in the areas south of Mosul alone", Khudair told Diyaruna.

"The terrorist group also carried out mass arrests and abuses on residents to intimidate and subject them to its authority," he said. "Residents now want revenge and to assert to the liberation forces that they reject ISIL’s presence and will do their best to co-operate in expelling its elements from their areas."

The Iraqi army is now positioned in Haj Ali village, he said, only five kilometres away from al-Qayyarah and 60 kilometres away from the centre of Mosul.

Khudair expressed concern that ISIL may carry out brutal acts to suppress the uprising, calling for government forces to act quickly and expel the group.

Iraqi flags seen in Mosul

Mohammed al-Bayati, a journalist from Ninawa province who works as a producer and host at al-Ghad radio station, noted that ISIL’s influence in the Hammam al-Alil area has receded dramatically.

"According to the information I received from local sources, Iraqi and foreign ISIL elements all have left the area with their families, and only a small number of mostly local fighters remain," he told Diyaruna.

"Iraqi flags are now flying atop public buildings and residents’ homes within view of the remaining ISIL [fighters] who are afraid to challenge the residents’ wrath," he said.

The wave of anger and rebellion is sweeping most areas of Mosul and is not confined to al-Qayyarah and Hamam al-Alil, said Kurdistan Democratic Party spokesman Said Mamuzini.

Residents have been writing slogans on walls denouncing ISIL and distributing flyers urging Mosul residents to rise up against them, he said.

Mamuzini cited an incident that occurred a few days ago in a market in Mosul's al-Taameem district, when a number of ISIL fighters stormed a shop to confiscate a satellite dish.

"ISIL elements came under a barrage of rocks from every direction and from women angry about the oppressive practice of the terrorists," he told Diyaruna.

"This incident reflects the extent of ISIL’s decline," he said.