United States Agency for Global Media

Washington, D.C. — A freelance video journalist covering the battle against the Islamic State (ISIL) militant group in Mosul, Iraq for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was critically injured in a mortar attack October 20.

Rasool Mahmood, who was covering the military campaign against ISIL in Iraq for RFE/RL’s service to Iran, Radio Farda, was reporting from the front lines of the push to retake the country’s second largest city from ISIL militants when he was wounded by a mortar in a counter attack by ISIL fighters against Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi forces.

Mahmood was traveling with Peshmerga soldiers about 25 kilometers from the center of Mosul when the attack happened. He sustained broken bones and the likely loss of one eye. He is currently being treated at a hospital in Erbil.

“We are devastated by the news that our colleague is wounded,” said RFE/RL President Thomas Kent. “He is a brave and dedicated reporter and we are doing everything possible to support his family and get him the medical attention he needs.”

Mahmood’s coverage of the battle for Mosul has included exclusive video and photo reports from the battlefield, as well as exclusive interviews, including with the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Peshmerga forces. Several of Mahmood’s reports for Radio Farda have been picked up by CNN, Time magazine, USA Today and other international media outlets.