65,000 Iraqi soldiers ready for Mosul liberation battle

(IraqiNews.com) Nineveh – Iraqi forces are preparing for a battle that is expected to take place in the coming few days to liberate the city of Mosul from the grip of the terrorist group, ISIS.

Iraqi media outlets mentioned that around 5,000 fighters belonging to ISIS occupy the city of 1.3 million besieged residents.

News websites reported that 65,000 Iraqi soldiers divided into 6 divisions are expected to participate in the imminent battle.

Around 10,000 Kurdish Peshmerga fighters are expected to participate in the battles that will take place in northern and eastern axes of Nineveh plain.

Around 24,000 members of Nineveh Police and al-Hashd al-Shaabi Milita are ready to participate in the battle as support forces. Iraqi Air Force in coordination with the air force of the US-led coalition will provide air cover for the ground operation.

In a related development, al-Hashd al-Shaabi Milita Forces announced on Monday that 14 of its members were killed by 5 Katyusha rockets fired by ISIS militants at Camp Zilkan north of Mosul.

Media outlets revealed that only 76,000 tents have been set up to receive Mosul families, while at least 300,000 tents are supposed to be set up to receive the large number of families expected to flee the city at the start of the battle.