28 October 2016•Update: 28 October 2016
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON
Iraqi forces seeking to oust Daesh from Mosul have halted operations to adjust to the extremist group’s tactics, the U.S.-led coalition said Friday.
“It's in their interest to pause the advance in some areas in order to do some back clearing and make sure that their flanks and their rear are clear of Daesh,” spokesman Col. John Dorrian told reporters via video link from Baghdad.
“We expected that there would be instances where they needed to pause and reposition forces, you know, because the enemy gets a vote,” he added, referring to an old military adage.
While the pause is “widespread”, Dorrian said it should only last a couple of days.
The effort to wrest Mosul from Daesh's control is nonetheless on track, and Iraqi forces are between 10 to 20 kilometers (6 to 12 miles) away from the contested city, Dorrian said.
Responding to recent reports, Dorrian said Kurdish peshmerga fighters have so far honored their agreement to remain out of Mosul proper.
“Everything that I have seen indicates to me that the Kurds are following the agreed upon plan,” he said.
Last week, the Iraqi army and allied fighters backed by the U.S.-led coalition, launched a wide-ranging operation aimed at retaking Mosul, Daesh’s last stronghold in northern Iraq.
Daesh captured Iraq’s second largest city in mid-2014 before overrunning additional territory in the country’s northern and western regions.
While the Iraqi army and its local allies have since recovered much territory, the terror group remains in control of Mosul and several parts of western Anbar province.
