Iraqi Prime Minister: Mosul Will Be Liberated Sooner Than Expected

Haider al-Abadi, the Prime Minister of Iraq, has stated that Mosul is likely to be liberated from the self-proclaimed Islamic State sooner than anticipated. In a video connection with an international conference on Mosul held in Paris, Mr. Abadi pledged that Iraqi forces would protect civilians fleeing from Mosul. The Iraqi Prime Minister added that his country's forces are advancing towards Mosul faster than predicted. On the same day, an Iraqi army commander announced that special forces had liberated the town of Bartella, located 20 kilometers from Mosul, from the Islamic State's militia. An Associated Press reporter accompanying the Iraqi special forces reported that after hours of intense fighting and suicide bombings involving several trucks filled with explosives, the Iraqi army was able to push back ISIS militants. Kurdish Peshmerga forces have also launched a new attack around Mosul. Meanwhile, Jean-Marc Ayrault, the French Foreign Minister, warned at the Paris conference that hundreds of thousands would flee Mosul, and officials must scrutinize each of them to ensure that ISIS militants are not hiding among them. Senior diplomats and representatives from about 20 countries participated in the Paris conference. Discussions focused on how to assist Mosul, protect civilians, and establish stability and security in the city after the defeat of the Islamic State. Mosul was unexpectedly captured by ISIS in the summer of 2014. An Iraqi court has also issued an arrest warrant for the former governor of Nineveh for collaborating with Turkey. Atheel al-Nujaifi is accused of allowing Turkish military forces to enter Iraq and establish a military base in the north of the country. The entry of Turkish military forces into Iraq has sparked severe diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Turkish army forces in northern Iraq are providing military training to Kurdish Peshmerga and Sunni militants fighting against ISIS. In this context, General Wolski stated that the number of ISIS militants in Mosul is between three to five thousand. The commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq noted that ISIS leaders are fleeing Mosul. Rahim Safavi remarked that the Mosul operation increases political and military pressure on Syria.