Thu Oct 13, 2016 19:46:37
The Iraqi Army continued to deploy its forces around Mosul on Thursday, gearing up to move against the last urban stronghold of the Islamic State (ISIS / Daesh / ISIL) terrorist group in Iraq.
Armored vehicles and other army trucks were seen around Dibaga driving towards the eastern Mosul frontline.
Kurdish peshmerga fighters based at Gwer, east of Mosul, said a large number of Iraqi Army vehicles had crossed the river in recent days, taking up positions on the road leading towards the city.
The arrival of the Iraqi Army in these areas is significant because the frontlines north and east of the city are controlled by the Kurdish regional government’s forces.
The deployment suggests that the Iraqi Army will attempt to attack Mosul from at least three different directions, with army units also deployed south of the city.
Haider al-Abadi, the Iraqi prime minister, has promised that Mosul would be liberated by the end of the year.
There has been intense speculation in recent weeks that an attack on the city is imminent.
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