Preparations completed to retake Mosul: Barzani

ERBIL, Iraq (AA) - Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) president Massoud Barzani said Saturday that preparations are complete for retaking Mosul from the terrorist organization Daesh.

"I announce that all preparations to retake Mosul have been completed. An agreement has been made between the Iraqi army and peshmerga forces in this context," said Barzani on the Kurdish Regional Government website.

He added that the agreement details the participation of various parties in the operation.

"There is a strong solidarity between peshmerga forces and the Iraqi army," he added.

Additionally Barzani said he hopes Mosul residents will soon be free of Daesh’s cruelty and that the civilians who fled their homes can return.

In mid-2014, Daesh captured the northern city of Mosul and overran vast swathes of territory in northern and western Iraq.

Recent months have seen the Iraqi army, backed by a 60-nation air coalition led by the U.S., retake much territory. Nevertheless, the terrorist group remains in control of several parts of the country, including Mosul.

In recent weeks, the army and its allies have staged a gradual advance on the city, which officials in Baghdad have vowed to liberate by year’s end.