Mosul Battle: Iraq Announces Op to Retake City from Daesh
Local Editor
A military operation to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Daesh [Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS"/ "ISIL" group] has begun, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi says.
"The time of victory has come and operations to liberate Mosul have started," he said early on Monday in an address broadcast on Iraqi TV.
"Today I declare the start of these victorious operations to free you from the violence and terrorism of Daesh," he added referring to the residents of Mosul.
He added that Iraqi army is leading the operations with support from the national police force.
Abadi has on multiple occasions asserted that all troops participating in the Mosul offensive are from Iraq, adding that the US-led coalition would only support the operation.
US Secretary of War Ash Carter said that the Mosul operations were a key move in defeating the Daesh takfiri terrorists.
"This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver Daesh a lasting defeat," said Carter in a statement. "We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from Daesh's hatred and brutality."
Over the last few months, Iraq has been preparing for the operation on Daesh in Mosul, which slipped into the hands of the terrorists in the summer of 2014.
Mosul is the group's last major stronghold in Iraq. The loss of the city, officials say, would mark the effective defeat of Daesh in the country.
Sporadic artillery was reportedly heard in areas around the city after the announcement.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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