MESOP INSIGHT IRAQ RETAKING MOSUL / CLICK SOURCES : US CENTRAL COMMAND – WALL STREET JOURNAL – NEW YORK TIMES
A joint Iraqi and Kurdish military force comprised of between 20,000 and 25,000 troops is preparing for an operation to retake the Iraqi city of Mosul from Islamic State militants. A senior military official from the U.S. Central Command discussed the operation in a news briefing Thursday, during which he said the aim was for the operation to begin between April and May. He also noted that Mosul was being held by between 1,000 and 2,000 Islamic State fighters. Also on Thursday, a U.S. official said the United States and Turkey signed an agreement to train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters. According to the deal, Turkey and the United States will provide an equal number of trainers, and Turkey will provide one of four training facilities. According to the United States, the goal is for the fighters to counter Islamic State militants, however, Turkish officials indicated they could also target Syrian government forces. Watch relevant sources : http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/19/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKBN0LN28I20150219?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMideast%20Brief&utm_campaign=2014_The%20Middle%20East%20Daily_2.20.15