Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the much-anticipated Mosul offensive to liberate the city from the terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on Sunday at midnight.
Addressing the people on state TV, Abadi said only the army and police would be in the city.
The United States and the rest of the US-led international coalition stand ready to support Iraq “in the difficult fight ahead,” US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Sunday as Baghdad announced its offensive to retake Mosul.
“This is a decisive moment in the campaign to deliver ISIL a lasting defeat. We are confident our Iraqi partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL’s hatred and brutality.” Carter said