Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the formal start of a military push to drive Islamic State extremists from the northern stronghold city of Mosul.
The announcement on state television early Monday signals the opening of the largest military operation in that country since U.S. forces left five years ago.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this is a "decisive moment" in the campaign to defeat Islamic State and pledged support from the U.S.-led coalition.
"We are confident our Iraq partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL's hatred and brutality," he said in a statement.
In the hours before the announcement, the Iraqi Air Force dropped thousands of leaflets on Mosul, warning residents of the coming offensive to liberate the city.
伊拉克总理海德尔∙阿巴迪宣布向摩苏尔的军事进攻正式开始，目的是将伊斯兰国极端组织赶出这座北部城市。
阿巴迪总理星期一早晨在电视上宣布了这个消息。这将是美军五年前撤出后伊拉克最大规模的军事行动。
美国国防部长卡特表示，这是击败伊斯兰国极端组织的一个决定性时刻，他还承诺美国领导的联盟将提供支持。
卡特国防部长在声明中说：“我们有信心，我们的伊拉克伙伴能够打败我们的共同敌人，把摩苏尔以及伊拉克其他地方从伊斯兰国的仇恨与残酷行径中解救出来。”
做出这一宣布的几小时前，伊拉克政府在摩苏尔撒下了大批传单，警告当地居民解放这座城市的攻势即将开始。