Despite the fact that the Islamic State (IS) has significantly been weakened in Iraq, the group yet has a large number of militants, equipped with heavy arms, in its bastion of Mosul, says a Kurdish Peshmerga commander.
After recapturing Fallujah in the west of Baghdad, followed by the liberation of Qayarah airbase in southern Mosul, the Iraqi army promised the defeat of IS in Mosul to happen in the near future.
Peshmerga commander Jafar Mustafa believes that the seizure of these areas are of strategic importance, with keeping in mind that a Qayara subdistrict is some 60 kilometers far from Mosul, a distance which is mostly covered with IEDs that could decelerate the advance towards Mosul.
Also, a large number of IS jihadists are yet in central Mosul who are equipped with heavy arms, Mustafa said, noting that, however, the territorial gains against IS can continue with a close cooperation between the Peshmerga force, Iraqi army and US-led coalition
“After all, we need to take into consideration that IS will possibly make a shift in its military tactics,” the Kurdish commander said, suggesting that the group may focus its military capacity on Mosul as they are losing ground in other areas.
basnews.com
