RNA - Al-Ameri said in a statement to reporters that the progress in the battle for Mosul is rapid in all fronts, but the size of the province’s and the presence of civilians make the determination of a timeframe for the liberation of Mosul a challenging job thing to do, Badr News reported.
Al-Ameri has stressed on the importance of regional coordination to fight terrorism, especially with Syria, which has suffered from terrorism and the need to benefit from global experiences such as the European Union’s experience to undermine the terrorists’ movements.
The remarks by the Iraqi commander come as reports said Iraqi forces retook around two thirds of the Eastern half of Mosul from ISIL since the start of an offensive in mid-October.
Iraqi security forces, however are experiencing some difficult hurdles in their operation to liberate Mosul as hundreds of thousands of civilians remain inside Iraq's second city, forcing Iraqi and allied forces to take precautions and slowing their advance.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the beginning of an operation to retake Mosul on Oct. 17 last year.
Iraq's counter terrorism forces more recently, deployed inside the city, have been moving house-to-house, dodging sniper fire, suicide car bombs and booby traps to retake one neighborhood after another.
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