U.S. defense secretary: Mosul assault should be launched at right time to succeed

Carter spoke on his way to Afghanistan, where he is meeting Afghan leaders and U.S. troops in his first week in the post, having taken over as secretary of defense from Chuck Hagel.

Any operation to take Mosul will be “Iraqi-led and US-supported,” he said.

“It’s important that it be launched at a time when it can succeed and so I think the important thing is that it get done when it can be done successfully. Even if I knew exactly when that was going to be I wouldn’t tell you,” he said.

“Of course I’m open, I’m always open to advice from our military commanders about the what the best way to achieve success is.

Right now, ISIS has an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 fighters in Mosul, the U.S. official said, but more could join the fight if they take the threat of attack seriously.

The approximate time of the attack had previously been reported: A U.S. Central Command official told CNN earlier this year that Iraqi forces could make their first move in April.

A Central Command official said Thursday that the hope is for an operation in April or May to avoid running into Ramadan (mid-June through mid-July) and Iraq’s summer heat. Still, the official stressed a final decision on the go-ahead for an attack is a ways off.

CNN

U.S. defense secretary: Mosul assault should be launched at right time to succeed

New U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Saturday that success is more important than timing in any attempt to retake Iraq’s second city, Mosul, from ISIS militants.

Carter spoke on his way to Afghanistan, where he is meeting Afghan leaders and U.S. troops in his first week in the post, having taken over as secretary of defense from Chuck Hagel.

Any operation to take Mosul will be “Iraqi-led and US-supported,” he said.

“It’s important that it be launched at a time when it can succeed and so I think the important thing is that it get done when it can be done successfully. Even if I knew exactly when that was going to be I wouldn’t tell you,” he said.

Right now, ISIS has an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 fighters in Mosul, the U.S. official said, but more could join the fight if they take the threat of attack seriously.

The approximate time of the attack had previously been reported: A U.S. Central Command official told CNN earlier this year that Iraqi forces could make their first move in April.

A Central Command official said Thursday that the hope is for an operation in April or May to avoid running into Ramadan (mid-June through mid-July) and Iraq’s summer heat. Still, the official stressed a final decision on the go-ahead for an attack is a ways off.

CNN