What is stopping the liberation of Mosul?
The liberation of Mosul from the Islamic State will be a complicated task for the Iraqi forces, as several players will be involved in the operation.
Ongoing preparations are taking place for the coming battle of Mosul, which appears to be getting closer, military sources say. Iraqi forces will face a difficult and costly battle and many obstacles before they can take over the western bastion of the Islamic State (IS).
In a speech praising the army's victory in Ramadi against IS, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Dec. 28, "We are coming to liberate Mosul, and it will be the fatal and final blow to [IS].”
The liberation of the city of Ramadi on Dec. 28 was the first major success of Iraqi forces against IS, which took over large swaths of western and northern Iraq in June 2014.
Iraqi military sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor that the Mosul attack would most probably be launched by June. Political bickering may cause the postponing of the operations.
