ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT: Iraq’s forces for its long-awaited push on Mosul will be ready in October, the top US general said on Tuesday, in the latest sign that a full-fledged campaign to recapture the city from Islamic State is fast approaching.
Marine General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US military’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a small group of reporters that the timing of the offensive, however, would be up to Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.
"They will have all of the forces that they need and it will be a political decision by Prime Minister Abadi as to when operations actually are conducted," Dunford said as he flew home from talks with US allies in Europe.
"But our job is to actually help the Iraqis generate the forces and the support necessary for operations in Mosul and we’ll be ready for that in October." Mosul has been the largest urban center under the militants’ control, with a prewar population of nearly 2 million.
09-21-2016, 05:40 AM
Iraqi forces for Mosul push to be ready in Oct: US
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