In the buildup to a long-awaited offensive on the city of Mosul, Kurdish forces are seizing new territory in northern Iraq that they say will become part of their autonomous region.

Lukman Sharawani, commander of a small unit of Kurdish fighters stationed north of Mosul, explained that Ninevah – his home province -was once one of the most diverse parts of Iraq.

For the 95% of our countrymen who still can’t point to Iraq on a map, U.S. and coalition forces invaded the country in 2003.

Mosul, the capital of Nineveh province, has become Iraq’s deadliest battleground as Sunni Arabs vie for power with Kurds and as insurgents loyal to Al Qaeda in Iraq launch attacks on U.S. forces.