Iraqi forces will soon launch the operation to liberate western Mosul from the "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL), Iraq's new Defence Minister told Diyaruna on Tuesday (February 14th).
"The plan being devised will guarantee a quick victory at minimal losses, while protecting the safety of the civilian population," Irfan al-Hayali said.
"Most of Ninawa's cities are in the hands of Iraqi forces, and ISIL is in great decline," he said, noting the big role the international coalition is playing in supporting the operations to retake Mosul.
Al-Hayali said "2017 will be the year that ISIL is eliminated and its control over [Iraqi] cities is terminated once and for all".
