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Not necessarily. Mosul is ISIS's stronghold and what happens if they don't take too kindly to the 450 Italian troops + workers over there working on the dam that's next to their main city?

It seems quite against their self-interests to stop the work, but you never know with this level of crazy.

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Fighting with heavy weaponry (such as artillery) around the dam is probably not in their interest either (potentially flooding their 'capital').

Shells tend to have a negative effect on structural stability.

On the the other hand obviously while they were holding the dam it was apparently free for all machinery looting season, which is not to clever if you plan to establish your headquarter downstream.

They ought to be able to finance the project by borrowing against the proceeds of the movie they make about the whole ordeal

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