US: Iraqi Army and Kurds to Begin Mosul Liberation Operations in Spring

A US military official has stated that he expects the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces to begin their major ground operation to liberate the city of Mosul from the control of the Islamic State group in April or May (next spring). According to a report by AFP on Friday, February 19, citing this unnamed US military official, between 1,000 to 2,000 armed Islamic State militants are believed to be stationed in Mosul. An army of approximately 25,000, composed of the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga, is set to participate in the Mosul liberation operation. Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq with a population of over half a million, is located in the north of the country and has been under the control of the Islamic State since last summer. The US military commander emphasized that this operation must be carried out by next spring, as the summer heat and the arrival of Ramadan would increase the risks of its success. The US has taken on the responsibility of training the Iraqi forces involved in the Mosul liberation operation, but it remains unclear what the exact role of the United States will be in this operation. As reported by AFP, recent airstrikes by the US-led international coalition have focused around Mosul, and Kurdish forces have also made advances in the areas surrounding the city. In recent weeks, the Peshmerga have successfully attacked roads near Mosul. In an effort to coordinate more effectively against the Islamic State, military commanders from over 20 countries gathered in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, February 18, to discuss ways to assist Iraq in combating this group, which controls large areas of Iraqi territory. The Islamic State has also seized large areas of Syria.