ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The US Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has said recapturing Mosul from ISIS militants is “possible” before President Barack Obama leaves office on January 20.
“That is certainly possible and again it is going to be a tough fight,” said Carter on Monday, according to Reuters.
As Iraqi forces backed by US-led coalition air and fire support push deeper into ISIS-held Mosul they experienced ISIS counter attacks over the weekend in the east, south and west of the city.
“Obviously there [are] always weather issues … the Iraqi Security Forces are prepared for any eventuality there,” Carter added.
The secretary of defense did not elaborate on how he thought Mosul could be recaptured before January 20.
The US began its war against ISIS in August 2014 after the group advanced across Northern Iraq (following the fall of Mosul in June) and attacked the Kurdistan Region. President Obama vowed to “degrade and destroy” the group. Since then the US has been backing its Iraqi and Kurdish allies, helping them recapture territory from the militants. Recapturing Mosul would be a blow to the group since it was from there that ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the foundation of the Islamic State.
Also on Saturday Carter said he believes that US and coalition military forces need to stay in Iraq following the defeat of the militants.
“In Iraq in particular, it will be necessary for the coalition to provide sustained assistance and carry on our work to train, equip, and support local police, borders guards, and other forces to hold areas cleared from ISIL,” Carter explained.
“That is certainly possible and again it is going to be a tough fight,” said Carter on Monday, according to Reuters.
As Iraqi forces backed by US-led coalition air and fire support push deeper into ISIS-held Mosul they experienced ISIS counter attacks over the weekend in the east, south and west of the city.
“Obviously there [are] always weather issues … the Iraqi Security Forces are prepared for any eventuality there,” Carter added.
The secretary of defense did not elaborate on how he thought Mosul could be recaptured before January 20.
The US began its war against ISIS in August 2014 after the group advanced across Northern Iraq (following the fall of Mosul in June) and attacked the Kurdistan Region. President Obama vowed to “degrade and destroy” the group. Since then the US has been backing its Iraqi and Kurdish allies, helping them recapture territory from the militants. Recapturing Mosul would be a blow to the group since it was from there that ISIS’s leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared the foundation of the Islamic State.
Also on Saturday Carter said he believes that US and coalition military forces need to stay in Iraq following the defeat of the militants.
“In Iraq in particular, it will be necessary for the coalition to provide sustained assistance and carry on our work to train, equip, and support local police, borders guards, and other forces to hold areas cleared from ISIL,” Carter explained.
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