Battle to Recapture Mosul from “Deash” Starts: Al-Abadi

BAGHDAD- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the start of operations to liberate the town of Mosul from “Daesh” terrorists.

“The time of victory has come and operations to liberate Mosul have started,” he said early on Monday in an address broadcast on Iraqi TV.

 “Today I declare the start of these victorious operations to free you from the violence and terrorism of Daesh,” he added referring to the residents of Mosul.

“The force leading liberation operations is the brave Iraqi army with the national police and they are the ones that will enter Mosul, not others,” he added.

An operation to retake Iraq’s second largest city has been planned for months, since Iraqi army and popular supportive forces surrounded Mosul, in the country’s north.

Earlier, al-Abadi said in a statement that the time of the battle for recapturing Mosul and expelling “Deash” terrorists is getting nearer.

He called on neighboring countries to support Iraq against attempts of violating its national sovereignty, in reference to the Turkish regime’s army’s attacks on Iraqi areas near Mosul.

H.M