Washington: As Iraqi forces move forward in their campaign to liberate Mosul city from the ISIS, the US has said dislodging the terror group from its self-declared capital would be a “significant strategic gain”.
“I think the President (Barack Obama) would be the first to acknowledge that this is a significant test, given the population size of Mosul, given the large geographic area that it encompasses,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Monday.
“The symbolic importance that the ISIL (ISIS) has invested in their control of Mosul, dislodging them from the city would be a significant strategic gain,” he said.
“That's why the US and our Iraqi partners have been working so closely over the last several months to prepare for this operation,” Earnest said in response to a question. Responding to a question, the White House official said he is not aware that any sort of specific timeframe has been laid out for when the operation would be completed.
“Obviously, this represents the next important step in our campaign against ISIL in Iraq. The US has mobilised a 67-member coalition to support the Iraqi government and Iraqi security forces as they seek to rid ISIL from their country,” he added, using another acronym for the ISIS.
“Mosul is the second largest city in Iraq. It was the city where ISIL's leader announced their unfulfilled intent to form a caliphate. It is now the last major centre of ISIL in Iraq,” Earnest said.
