Pentagon Says Islamic State Fortifying Mosul Stronghold in Iraq
- Militant group rigged city with explosives ahead of assault
- U.S. calls on Turkey, Iraq to focus on coalition offensive
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Islamic State has dug trenches and rigged roads and buildings with explosives ahead of a U.S.-led coalition offensive to dislodge the militants from their stronghold in Mosul in northern Iraq.
“We’re certainly well aware that this is going to be a difficult challenge, a difficult operation,” U.S. Defense Department spokesman Capt. Jeff Davis said on Tuesday. He also said that Islamic State is “demoralized” and “having a harder time exercising command and control over their own forces.”