A feature by The National explores the revelations in the newly published book, "Mosul Eye: The Scholars' Secret War Against ISIS," detailing the dangerous undercover operations of Iraqi historian Omar Mohammed to preserve his city's heritage and protect its citizens during the terror regime's occupation.
Initially documenting daily atrocities under the alias "Mosul Eye," Mohammed was forced to flee to Paris in 2016, where he transitioned into an offsite intelligence gatherer. By cross-referencing satellite pictures with live updates from local contacts, he provided actionable spatial data to Iraqi military commanders and US Central Command. This targeting guidance allowed rescue teams to navigate backstreets and pull trapped civilians from combat zones. In one notable incident, he orchestrated the escape of his close associate—an archaeologist known as "Nadeem"—who only later learned that his rescuer was the same friend who had attended his clandestine heritage preservation meetings.
The publication features high-profile contributions, including a letter from Pope Francis and a foreword written by General David Petraeus, who commanded US troops in the region following the 2003 invasion.
Looking past the military victory, Mohammed questions whether physical urban rebuilding can repair a social fabric shredded by decades of conflict and sectarian divisions. Comparing the 2014–2017 devastation to the destruction of ancient Assyrian Nineveh in 612 BC, he concludes that today's Mosul is not simply recovering its past, but evolving into an entirely distinct city with new social structures and a altered demographic landscape
