Mosul is a 2019 Netflix war film written and directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan. Loosely adapted from the 2017 New Yorker article "The Desperate Battle to Destroy ISIS", the film stars Adam Bessa as Kawa, a young Iraqi police officer who is recruited to join the elite Nineveh Province SWAT team as they carry out a dangerous mission during the Battle of Mosul. The film premiered on Netflix on November 26, 2020.
The following weapons were used in the film Mosul:
Kawa Salah Al-Faily (Adam Bessa) and his partner Jameel Ziad Al Qurtibi (Ali Al Jarrah) use Glock 17 pistols while defending themselves from an ISIS attack in the introduction. Members of the Nineveh SWAT team are also equipped with Glock 17s as their sidearms.
Commander Jasem, Amir (Mohimen Mahbuba), and Hooka (Thaer Al Shayei) use AK-47 rifles as their main weapons. Jasem's AK-47 is modified with a TDI style railed handguard, KAC foregrip, “Jungle magazines” taped together, a EOTech 512 Holographic sight and a Tapco Intrafuse folding stock.
Several members of the SWAT team, most notably Waleed (Is'haq Elias), are armed with the AKM. ISIS fighters also use AKM rifles while battling the SWAT team.
In a continuity error in certain scenes, Kawa (Adam Bessa) is occasionally seen with an AKMS without the muzzle brake when he was initially wielding a Norinco Type 56-1.
Kawa is given a Norinco Type 56-1 rifle when he joins the Nineveh SWAT team. As mentioned above, the Type 56-1 occasionally becomes an AKMS in certain scenes.
ISIS fighters, Iraqi Army soldiers and Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces / PMU) militiamen are seen using 5.56x45mm Valmet M76 rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingValmet M76 - 5.56x45mm. The Valmet M76 was also offered in 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missingAn ISIS fighter with a Valmet M76 assaults the cafe where Kawa has taken refuge. Another ISIS fighter disembarking from the pickup truck in the background is also holding a M76.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIraqi Army soldiers armed with Valmet M76s surround a civilian. While Iraqi Army units use a variety of small arms (including numerous Kalashnikov variants), they do not use the Valmet M76 in real life.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Hashd al-Shaabi militiaman holds a Valmet M76.
Beretta SCP-70/90
A PMU militiaman can be seen with a Beretta SCP-70/90 carbine when the SWAT team meets with a PMU group to barter for ammunition.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBeretta SCP-70/90 with stock folded. SCP version (Special Carabine Paratroopers) is used by Paratroopers and rarely by Operazione Strade Sicure soldiers . - 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingA PMU militiaman holds a Beretta SCP-70/90.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother shot of the SCP-70/90 shows the distinctive carry handle, as well as the short barrel that distinguishes it as the carbine variant of the Beretta SC-70/90.
IMI Romat
Akram (Mohamed Attougui) uses an Israeli IMI Romat heavy barrel rifle as his main weapon.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingIMI Romat - 7.62x51mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingAkram returns fire with the IMI Romat during an ambush. Although it is not completely improbable that an Iraqi police officer would use a FN FAL variant or a 7.62x51mm weapon, it is unlikely that such a weapon would be used given the difficulties the SWAT team had in acquiring ammunition as described in the source material and depicted in the film.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAkram scans the rooftops of an alleyway with his IMI Romat.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAkram and Commander Jasem open fire during an assault on an ISIS base.
M4A1 Carbine
IRGC Colonel Kaveh Afsahani (Waleed Elgadi), the leader of the PMU group that the SWAT team encounters, uses a M4A1 Carbine with a foregrip and an ACOG sight to shoot down ISIS suicide drones. During an argument with Commander Jasem, he refers to the rifle as an "Iraqi Army rifle for sale, never been fired, only been dropped once."
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4A1 with 4 position collapsible stock, RIS foregrip, folding rear sight, and ACOG scope - 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingColonel Afsahani aims his M4A1 carbine as Commander Jasem notes the contradiction of an Iranian colonel using an American-made rifle in Iraq.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA close-up of the M4A1 Carbine shows that it is equipped with railed handguards, the six-position "LE" buttstock and an ACOG sight.
Shotguns
Franchi PA8
One of the PMU militiamen is armed with a Franchi PA8 shotgun.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingFranchi PA8 - 12 gaugeError creating thumbnail: File missingThe distinctive folding stock of the Franchi PA8 can be seen.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA full profile shot of the Franchi PA8 is seen as Colonel Afsahani opens up boxes of ammunition. Note that while Iranian advisors often work with PMU groups in Iraq, it is unlikely that they would wear the official IRGC uniform with ranks openly displayed while in the middle of an active combat zone.
Sniper Rifles
Norinco NDM-86
An ISIS sniper uses a Norinco NDM-86 in 7.62x51mm, as distinguished by the magazine, to shoot at civilians who are fleeing ISIS territory. After the sniper is eliminated, Amir takes the NDM-86 and uses it for the remainder of the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNorinco NDM-86 - .308 Winchester / 7.62x51mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingThe ISIS sniper takes cover during a gun battle with the SWAT team.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAmir takes cover during an ISIS drone attack. The distinctive straight 7.62x51mm magazine that distinguishes the Norinco NDM-86 can be seen in this shot, which differs from the curved 7.62x54mm magazine seen on the SVD. Although the rifle appears to have non-standard black furniture, a closer inspection reveals that the rifle simply has had its standard wooden furniture painted black.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAmir uses the NDM-86 to provide cover fire during the SWAT team's assault on an ISIS base.
SVD Dragunov
A genuine SVD Dragunov is also found by the SWAT team when they storm the ISIS sniper nest. Waleed is seen detaching the PSO-1 sight from the rifle in order to use it to survey the surrounding area.
A ZB-53 / vz. 37 machine gun is mounted on the turrets of two of the SWAT team's Humvees. Although the ZB-53 is not an anachronistic weapon, it is likely used as a substitute for the DsHK machine guns that are mentioned in the source article.
The SWAT team's third Humvee has a M60 Machine Gun mounted on its turret. In the source article that the film is based on, the Nineveh Province SWAT team is seen using PKM machine guns and the team is noted to be completely equipped with Soviet bloc firearms, in contrast to the American-supplied Iraqi special operations forces they are working with.
Several M67 hand grenades are used by ISIS fighters in the introduction. Later, Waleed is seen priming a hand grenade during a standoff between the SWAT team and the PMU group. Waleed uses another M67 grenade during an ambush.
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