An Iraqi military operation to retake the country's second largest city from Islamic State is likely to begin in April or May, according to a US official.
A force of 20,000-25,000 Iraqi and Kurdish forces will aim to seize back Mosul from an estimated 1,000-2,000 IS fighters, who took it last June after government forces melted away in the onslaught.
The planned spring assault on the city, with a population of over a million, will involve about 12 brigades, five of whom will soon have coalition training, the official at US Central Command added.
No decision has been made on whether small numbers of US military advisers might need to be on the ground close to Mosul to direct close air support.
The main attack force would include five Iraqi army brigades, the official said.
Three smaller brigades would act as a reserve force, and three brigades of Kurdish Peshmerga troops would contain the city from the north and isolate it from Islamic State forces further west.
A so-called Mosul fighting force consisting mainly of former Mosul police officers and tribal fighters also is being assembled for the assault, the official said.
A brigade of counter-terrorism troops would also be employed in the fight, he said, adding if Iraqi forces were not ready by April or May the operation could be delayed.
Details of the planned assault were revealed as it emerged a serving British soldier had left his base to join Kurdish forces fighting against IS in northern Iraq.
It is very unusual for the US military to openly discuss the timing of an upcoming offensive, especially to a large group of reporters.
Sky's US correspondent Dominic Waghorn said: "Defence correspondents attending the briefing were described as 'scratching their heads' in astonishment.
"It is highly unusual for US military planners to reveal the timing of planned offensives and troop numbers.
"US Centcom justified the move as a sign of renewed Iraqi military confidence. But many will remain unconvinced, given the Iraqi military's total collapse before IS forces despite years and millions of dollars worth of training by the US."
The Sunni extremists have taken over large parts of Iraq and Syria and have declared an Islamic caliphate spanning both countries.
The terror group has murdered thousands of people, including beheading western hostages.
US President Barack Obama has vowed to degrade and ultimately destroy the jihadist group.
Over the last few months, the US-led coalition has carried out hundreds of airstrikes targeting militant positions in northern Iraq and Syria.
There are also American and British military personnel on the ground training Iraqi and Kurdish forces.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
US Reveals Mosul Assault Timing In Rare Move
Dengan url
http://mukenyerate.blogspot.com/2015/02/us-reveals-mosul-assault-timing-in-rare.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
US Reveals Mosul Assault Timing In Rare Move
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
US Reveals Mosul Assault Timing In Rare Move
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar