Iraq's defense minister criticized the United States on Sunday for declaring a time frame for an offensive to recapture the Islamic State's northern stronghold of Mosul, saying military commanders should not show their hand to the enemy.
Khaled al-Obeidi said the timing of the Mosul assault was for Iraq to decide, and that a US Central Command official who predicted the attack was likely to take place in April or May had no knowledge of the issue.
Islamic State fighters seized Mosul last June as they swept through northern Iraq towards Baghdad, meeting virtually no resistance from the army and establishing a self-declared caliphate straddling the border between Iraq and Syria.
The United States and its allies have waged months of air strikes against Islamic State targets and Washington is training up and equipping the Iraqi military to recapture territory. The battle for Mosul - the largest city in northern Iraq - is expected to be pivotal in that struggle.
A U.S. Central Command official said on Thursday that an Iraqi and Kurdish military force of 20,000 to 25,000 troops is being prepared to recapture the city, probably in April or May.
[jpost.com by Reuters]
22/2/15
--
-
Related:
---
GR
FR
DE
ES
IT
RU
EU
Iraqi Minister Criticizes US Official for Discussing Mosul Plan ...
ReplyDeleteIraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said on Sunday the timing of the Mosul assault was for Iraq to decide, criticizing a U.S. Central Command official who predicted the attack was likely to take place in April or May
Obeidi said that military commanders should not show their hand to the enemy and that the U.S. official had no knowledge of the issue, stressing the importance of accuracy in planning.
“This is an urban warfare and we have civilian populations. It is very important to take time and be accurate in setting the plan for this battle and we are working now with utmost accuracy. Zero hour cannot be revealed in military battles before finishing all preparations,” Obeidi said......................http://www.voanews.com/content/iraqi-minister-criticizes-us-for-discussing-mosul-plan/2654092.html
22/2/15
French aircraft carrier begins Iraq operations: French sources...
ReplyDelete(Reuters) - France's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier has started military operations against Islamic State in Iraq, a French army source said on Monday.
"The carrier and its naval group has officially started missions as part of its Chammal operation in Iraq," the source told Reuters in a reference to the name of the mission.
A second source said the carrier would be engaged for several weeks. ...............http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/23/us-mideast-crisis-france-idUSKBN0LR0QZ20150223?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews
23/2/15
Iraqi forces appear set to drive Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants out of the town of al-Baghdadi, securing an area near a key air base where U.S. Marines are training local forces, a top U.S. commander said on Monday....
ReplyDeleteLt. Gen. James Terry, the senior U.S. commander of U.S.-led coalition efforts in Iraq and Syria, played down the militants’ seizure of large parts of the town earlier this month, saying that the area had long been contested.
Speaking to reporters before an unusual war strategy meeting with top U.S. military and diplomatic leaders in Kuwait, Terry portrayed ISIS as being on the back foot after they swept through northern Iraq last summer.
“My assessment is [ISIS] is halted, on the defensive, and really forced-exposed themselves in order to achieve gains,” Terry told reporters in Kuwait.
The Iraqi army’s 7th Division, including one of its commando units, were joining with tribal forces to retake al-Baghdadi, which is about 85 km (50 miles) northwest of Ramadi in Anbar province, Terry said.
“Baghdadi itself isn’t that big,” said Terry, the commander of Operation Inherent Resolve. “I’m pretty confident that the Iraqis will retake this. I think they’ve got the right forces out there to do it.”....................http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/02/23/Iraq-moving-to-retake-town-from-Islamic-State-U-S-officer.html
23/2/15