Rabat – Iraqi Prime minister Haider al-Abadi on Tuesday said that security forces need “three months to eliminate” the Islamic State (IS) group as US-backed forces battle to dislodge the militants from their city stronghold of Mosul.
“Conditions indicate that Iraq needs three months to eliminate Dash,” state TV quoted Abadi as saying.
Abadi previously said the city would be retaken by the end of this year, but military officials point out that the operation has been slowed by the need to protect civilians who have mostly stayed in their homes rather than fleeing as was expected.
Mosul has been held by the group since its fighters drove the Iraqi army out in June 2014.
