BAGHDAD (Xinhua) – Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has pledged to liberate "every inch" of Iraq's land from the Daesh terrorist group, confirming that Iraqi troops are preparing for a new offensive.
"We will not leave a single inch of the land of Iraq in the hands of Daesh terrorists," Abadi said at a press conference after his weekly cabinet meeting.
Abadi, who is also the commander-in-chief of Iraqi forces, attributed the delay of liberation operations to the preparation work by the security forces.
Abadi's comments came as the Iraqi forces, including the predominantly Hashd Shaabi popular forces and tribal fighters, are taking new positions west of Iraq's northern city of Mosul, preparing for battles to liberate the Daesh -held areas, including the town of Tal Afar, the last Daesh redoubt in Nineveh province.