Iraq News
Security

New Mosul radio broadcast to prepare residents for liberation

By Khalid al-Taie

Iraqi officials look on as the Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul goes live for the first time on October 4th. [Photo courtesy of the Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul]

Iraqi officials look on as the Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul goes live for the first time on October 4th. [Photo courtesy of the Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul]

With the battle approaching to retake the city of Mosul from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), the Iraqi Media Network has launched a new radio station that will broadcast to city residents, urging them to co-operate with security forces and prepare for the liberation battle.

The radio will give instructions to residents about safe exit corridors, safety measures and co-operating with Iraqi forces, as well as provide real time updates on the course of the battle.

The Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul officially started broadcasting from the town of al-Qayyara, 60 kilometres south of Mosul, on October 4th at 12:00 pm local time, Media Network president Ali al-Shalah told Diyaruna.

The station will broadcast daily between 8:00 am and midnight on 103.3 FM2 frequency, he said.

"We wanted the station to speak on behalf of the Iraqi state and it was therefore agreed to name it 'the Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul' [...] in order to stress that Mosul will always remain in Iraq's heart and a part of its cultural identity," al-Shalah said.

The radio currently covers all of Ninawa province, he said, adding, "We hope to later expand the reach of the signal to include the country's northern areas."

Media and cultural tool

In addition to mobilising residents to support the security forces and helping them stay safe during the offensive, programmes will broadcast real time news of Iraqi forces' victories and progress on the ground and popular uprising against ISIL, he said.

"Programmes also will feature stories about Mosul's human heritage, which the terrorists are today trying to defile in their hideous crimes against the history, culture and symbols of this noble Iraqi city," he added.

The station serves as a "media and cultural asset" for the people of Mosul and will keep broadcasting from the city centre after its liberation, he said.

The Ninawa Operations Command has set up security protection for the new radio, said command spokesman Brig. Firas Bashar Sabri.

"We have secured and facilitated the job of the engineering team that has set up the radio broadcast equipment, and are currently providing full protection to the broadcasting and technical staff," he told Diyaruna.

The new radio will give a great boost to Iraqi troops in charge of liberating Mosul and the rest of Ninawa, he said.

The Radio of the Republic of Iraq in Mosul, along with the Ninawa Liberation Operation Radio which started broadcasting in February, "will help us deliver messages of reassurance and guidance to our people in Mosul", Sabri said.

It will reassure them that "the final victory over the terrorists is inevitable", he added.

Countering ISIL's propaganda

ISIL uses the media to "mislead and intimidate citizens and affect their morale", he said.

Through enhancing radio broadcasting, he said, "we will be able to respond to the enemy's propaganda and constant attempts to distort our forces' victories and hide its own defeats".

Launching the new station is a crucial step in confronting ISIL's propaganda, said Kazem al-Miqdadi, head of al-Farabi University College's Media Faculty.

It is of particular importance at this time when Iraqi forces are about to launch a large-scale attack against ISIL in Mosul to retake the city, he said.

"Delivering news, information and facts to Mosul residents will disprove all of the lies the terrorists are working to promote through their media and propaganda outlets," he told Diyaruna.

"The return of official state media to the city and its covering of military developments is a key factor in supporting the liberation battle," he said.

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