U.S. to provide more support for Iraq to retake Mosul from IS
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 1 March 2016 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, U.S. to provide more support for Iraq to retake Mosul from IS, 1 March 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/570cdf8e4.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
March 01, 2016
The United States will provide more support for Iraqi forces to retake Mosul from Islamic State (IS) militants than it did in the recapture of Ramadi, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said on February 29.
The United States will provide more logistics support for Iraqi ground operations and help in setting up temporary bridges that allow Iraqi forces to move into the northern Iraqi city, which is on the Tigris River, he said.
"We are talking about additional things of the kind that we've offered previously but that weren't necessary in the case of Ramadi but might well be helpful as Iraqi forces move north," he said.
Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city, was captured nearly two years ago. As in past campaigns against IS, Iraqi troops will take the lead role in the fight to recapture the city, Carter said.
General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the operation to retake Mosul will be bigger than the Ramadi operation in December because Mosul is a bigger city, and that's why it will require more support.
Based on reporting by AP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website