US general confident in Iraqis in Mosul fight
The top general in the US-led coalition in Iraq says Iraqi forces are ready to retake Mosul and that the coalition is "confident they will succeed."
US Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky says that "Mosul will be a hard fight, but the Iraqi security forces are ready. They've been waiting to liberate Mosul for two years, and today is the day."
Iraqi and Kurdish forces launched a massive operation on Monday to retake Mosul, which fell to IS in the summer of 2014. The US is supporting them with airstrikes, and US soldiers are serving in a support role on the ground.
Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN that "it's the Iraqis who are in the lead."
