- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Baghdad Unlikely to Demand US Troops Withdrawal After Mosul Liberation

© REUTERS / Ammar AwadUS. army soldiers stand next a military vehicle in the town of Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq, December 27, 2016
US. army soldiers stand next a military vehicle in the town of Bartella, east of Mosul, Iraq, December 27, 2016 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Iraqi government is unlikely to demand the US military to leave the country after liberation of Mosul, Lieut. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task said, giving no timeline though.

Iraqi security forces advance towards the western side of Mosul, Iraq February 19, 2017 - Sputnik International
Daesh Terrorists Buckle Under Iraqi Troops in Western Mosul
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — "I don't anticipate that we'll be asked to leave by the government of Iraq immediately after Mosul. I think that the government of Iraq realizes this is a very complex fight and they're gonna need the assistance of the coalition even beyond Mosul," Townsend said Monday, according to the news transcript published on Monday on the US Department of Defense website.

Townsend pointed out that the military forces were operating closer and deeper into the Iraqi formation.

"[W]e adjusted our posture during the east Mosul fight and we embedded advisers a bit further down into the formation," he added.

On Monday, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis met with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi and Defense Minister Arfan Hayali to discuss US-Iraqi cooperation, progress in operation to liberate Mosul from Islamic State (Daesh) terrorist group.

On Sunday, Abadi announced the beginning of operations to liberate the western part of Mosul. The eastern part of the city was liberated by the troops of Baghdad and US-led anti-terror coalition in January, while the rest of the city has been still occupied by terrorists.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала