Iraq to Launch Major Offensive on IS in Next 48 Hours: Reports

Iraqi army is planning to launch a major offensive to rid the country's central Saladin province and the second-largest city of Mosul of Islamic State extremists.

MOSCOW, December 16 (Sputnik) — The Iraqi military is planning to launch a major offensive to rid the country's central Saladin province and the second-largest city of Mosul of Islamic State (IS) and other insurgents, Iran's Press TV reported Tuesday.

The attack will take place in the next 48 hours, the news outlet stated.

"The tactic now is to liberate one province after another," political analyst Jemaa Atwani, said, as quoted by Press TV.

The expert explained that once the army liberates Saladin province, it will move toward Mosul, considered one of IS’ main strongholds.

"The liberation of what is left from Saladin, including Tikrit [the capital of the province] and some of the villages … will pave the way towards the battle of Mosul," Atwani stated.

Mosul fell into the hands of IS insurgents in June. It is the biggest city controlled by the jihadist group that established a caliphate over parts of Iraq and Syria. The US-led international coalition's air raids have been targeting extremists in Mosul.