Iraq says it has started its long-awaited offensive to retake Mosul from ISIS

(Image credit: Moadh Al-Dulaimi/AFP/Getty Images)

published 24 March 2016

A spokesman for the Iraqi military said Thursday morning that Iraq has begun its long-threatened offensive to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State. Mosul, 225 miles northwest of Baghdad, is Iraq's second-largest city, and the largest city under ISIS control. Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasool said that Iraqi forces, with unspecified air support from the U.S.-led coalition, have already taken several villages near a town to the east of Mosul. ISIS overran Mosul in June 2014.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Explore More

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.