Nov. 28, 2016

Carter: ISIL's Days in Mosul Are Numbered

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Iraqi forces, bolstered by the international coalition, are making significant gains toward defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Mosul.

Nov. 15, 2016

Gains Made for Mosul, Tough Fighting Remains, DoD Spokesman Says

WASHINGTON — The effort to liberate Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a tough fight that is only going to get tougher, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said as Iraqi forces and Kurdish peshmerga are making gains in the approach to Mosul.

Nov. 14, 2016

Chairman Confident of Success in Campaign Against ISIL

WASHINGTON — With the fall of Mosul within sight, the battle against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terror group will shift to other domains and areas, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Nov. 10, 2016

Pentagon Spokesman: Iraqi Troops Force Defensive Choices for ISIL

WASHINGTON — Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said Iraqi security forces continue to apply pressure on multiple fronts in the operation to retake the country’s second-largest city of Mosul from Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists.

Nov. 7, 2016

Isolation, Liberation of Raqqa Key in Defeating ISIL, Pentagon Spokesman Says

WASHINGTON — Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook said the isolation and liberation of the Syrian city of Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are key in efforts to ultimately defeat the terrorists.

Nov. 6, 2016

Dunford, Turkish Leaders Create Long-term Plan Against ISIL in Raqqa

ANKARA, Turkey — Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with his counterpart Turkish Army Gen. Hulusi Akar and hammered out a long-range plan for operations against ISIL in Syria.

Nov. 3, 2016

'Steady Progress' As Some Iraqi Forces Reach Mosul, OIR Official Says

WASHINGTON — A spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve said Iraqi forces and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are gaining ground in the battle for Mosul, with some forces reaching the northern Iraqi city.

Oct. 27, 2016

Iraqi, Kurdish Forces Approaching Outskirts of Mosul

WASHINGTON — Pentagon Press Operations director Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told reporters Iraqi and Kurdish forces are about 5 miles from Mosul’s outskirts and are clearing towns and villages to the north, east and south of Iraq’s second-largest city.

Oct. 26, 2016

OIR Commander Cites Momentum in Mosul Push; Raqqa Isolation to Begin 'Soon'

WASHINGTON — Army Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve, told Pentagon reporters that Iraqi forces continue to make steady progress in the effort to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

Oct. 25, 2016

Noose Tightening Around ISIL in Mosul, Carter Says

WASHINGTON — The contributions of coalition partners in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are invaluable, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said at the opening of the counter-ISIL small group defense ministerial at Hexagone Balard, the new French defense ministry building in Paris.