Iraqi Prime Minister: After Ramadi, the Liberation of Mosul is Next

Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, promised on Friday, December 25, that following the recapture of the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State group, Iraqi forces would also act to seize Mosul. According to the German news agency, Mr. Abadi stated that after the Iraqi government forces take Ramadi in western Iraq from the Islamic State group, they will begin an assault on the group's positions in the city of Mosul. Iraqi forces launched a large-scale offensive last week against the Islamic State group's positions to drive them out of Ramadi, with the support of U.S. airstrikes. Ramadi, located 110 kilometers south of Baghdad, was captured by the Islamic State group in May of this year following the retreat of the Iraqi army. This city is the center of the predominantly Sunni Anbar province, which extends from the outskirts of Baghdad to the borders of Syria and Jordan. The Iraqi Prime Minister emphasized in a statement broadcast on the country's television that 'the liberation of Mosul will be achieved with the cooperation and unity of all Iraqis after the victory in Ramadi.' The Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi army announced on December 23 that the capture of Ramadi would take place 'within a few days.' However, Iraqi officials say the progress of this operation is slow due to the placement of explosive traps in various areas of the city. The Islamic State group has controlled Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, since mid-2014 (about 18 months ago). The Shiite Prime Minister of Iraq has been trying to garner support from the Sunni population of the country to drive the Islamic State group out of Iraq.