MESOP IRAQ INSIDE : PREPARING THE MOSUL OPERATION
Head of the U.S. Central Command, General Lloyd Austin, said the United States and Iraq have started preparing for an offensive by summer to retake the city of Mosul, which was seized by Islamic State militants in June 2013. Austin said preparations included selecting and training military units and cutting supply routes to the militants. He noted the U.S.-led coalition had made gains against the Islamic State militants, killing over 6,000 of its fighters and reclaiming 300 square miles of territory in Iraq. Since Wednesday, coalition forces carried out 16 airstrikes targeting Mosul. Read all: http://www.wsj.com/articles/us-and-iraq-prepare-offensive-to-retake-mosul-1421949677?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=%2AMideast%20Brief&utm_campaign=2014_The%20Middle%20East%20Daily_1.23.15