COMBINED IRAQI-KURDISH FORCE OF 25,000 TO RETAKE MOSUL

Combined Iraqi-Kurdish Force of 25,000 Prepare to Retake Mosul from ISIS

In preparation of what will be a joint Iraqi-Kurdish military operation, a force of up to 25,000 fighters is being prepared to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from ISIS, a US official says. The senior military officer said that the operation to recapture the northern city would probably take place in April or May.

Mosul is Iraq’s second largest city and has been held by between 1,000 and 2,000 ISIS terrorists since it was captured last June. It normally has a population of more than a million people, but there is no way of knowing the current population.

The combined force will have completed training under U.S. personnel by that time. They will function as an autonomous force, but will have access to American advisors as needed. No decision has been made whether to use technical advisers to direct air support operations at this time.

The planned operation will need to be completed by the end of May or it could be compromised by the summer heat, otherwise it might be necessary to post-phone the operation until later. Iraqi security forces, trained and backed by the US military, have been trying to retake territory from ISIS.

Telegraphing the timing of an attack is unusual, but the US insists that ISIS forces are now in retreat and Washington needs to show that its efforts to rebuild Iraqi military capacity are bearing fruit. Earlier in the week, Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi confirmed that his forces were “planning an offensive on Mosul”.

Mr Abadi said that he hoped Mosul would be liberated in a few months’ time, with a minimum of casualties. He added that the actions of the US-led coalition against ISIS had improved in the past four or five weeks. “I think the air campaign has increased in its quality and intensity,” he said.

Military leaders from more than 20 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia on Thursday to discuss how to strengthen the Iraqi army against ISIS. An official said a “firm plan” was being looked at to empower the Iraqi army.

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