Mosul offensive: forces launch mass attack on Iraqi city in bid to oust Isis
A long-awaited offensive to seize back Mosul after two years of ISIS control has begun with columns of armour and military starting to move to the northern Iraqi city.
A long-awaited offensive to seize back Mosul after two years of ISIS control has begun with columns of armour and military starting to move to the northern Iraqi city.
The start of the offensive, which has been months in the planning, was announced in an address on state television by Iraq’s prime minister in the early hours of Monday morning.
Haider al-Abadi said: “We have been battling ISIS for more than two years. We started fighting them in the outskirts of Baghdad, and thank God we are now fighting them in the outskirts of Mosul, and God willing the decisive battle will end victoriously soon.
After a month-long buildup, the last urban stronghold of the so-called Islamic State in Iraq has for several days been almost completely surrounded by a 30,000-strong force.
