US President Obama hopes for progress on Mosul by year-end

US President Barack Obama said that his administration will ask Congress and other countries to step up aid for Iraq to help rebuild Mosul after an expected operation in the coming months to dislodge Islamic State terrorists from the city. 

Speaking to reporters at the end of a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Obama yesterday said he hopes for progress by the end of the year on Mosul, Iraq's



second-largest city which fell to the Islamic State group in June 2014.Obama said once the Mosul operation is finished, it will be necessary to rebuild the city to prevent militants and extremists from returning.

Abadi echoed Obama's comments about a time frame for the long-anticipated Mosul operation. Iraqi commanders have indicated an operation to dislodge the group from the city could begin by late October.