Iraq

Preparation for the assault on Mosul

Pentagon chief Ashton Carter consults with the Iraqi government on the strategy against the IS terrorists. It is one of the last strongholds of the jihadists is also a question of the reconquest.

From the recently occupied airbase Kajjarah from a United force coordinated to the decisive blow of the backswing: Also in Mosul, the last major Bastion of the so-called “Islamic state” should be freed. Combat aircraft of the United States and the Anti-IS coalition would shoot again the thus the advancing Iraqi forces out of the way. U.S. Secretary of defense Ashton Carter arrived to complete an unannounced visit to Baghdad, even – or especially – to the appropriate plans for the long-awaited battle of the big city in the North.

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It is the fourth visit to Carter’s in Iraq since the beginning of his term in February 2015. It takes place two days after another military success in the fight against the IS: On Saturday, the Iraqi army had the airbase Kajjarah about 50 kilometers South of Mosul by the IS back.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said then that the airfield could be an important strategic base for the conquest of Mosul. Carter agreed to the on the flight to Baghdad, in front of reporters and said extensive support.

At the end of June, Iraq had Robert’s forces on the city of Fallujah, West of Baghdad, the Sunni IS jihadists. Since the Intervention of the US-led military Alliance in the fall of 2014 on the part of the Iraqi army IS increasingly lost ground.

SC/qu (APE, rtr, afp)