Defence secretary Michael Fallon claims Iraqi government forces are ‘on the cusp’ of retaking major ISIS stronghold of Mosul
Sir Michael said the operation to take the city of Mosul will begin in 'a couple of weeks'
DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon says Iraqi forces are "on the cusp" of taking back the last ISIS stronghold in the country.
Sir Michael, who has recently returned from a three-day visit to Iraq where he met senior government figures, said the operation to take the city of Mosul will begin in "a couple of weeks".
UK warplanes are now stepping up attacks on militant positions ahead of the offensive, striking more than 100 targets in and around the city.
The surge in action comes two years after the UK first began military operations against ISIS - also known as Daesh.
Sir Michael said today: "The RAF is now operating at the highest tempo in a single theatre for over 25 years.
"There is no doubt Daesh is facing defeat. We are on the cusp of liberating the last major city in Iraq - Mosul.
"Having spoken to the commanders of the troops involved, their self-belief and determination is very clear.
"Though Mosul is a large and complex city, it was fall and will fall soon. I expect the operation for its encirclement to being in the next few weeks."
The Defence Secretary, who reviewed the attack plan with commanders, said Iraqi forces were moving into assembly ready for the assault.
Lieutenant General Mark Carleton-Smith, the deputy chief of the defence staff, said coalition air strikes were keeping up the pressure on ISIS.
They are said to have destroyed "close to a billion dollars" in ISIS' illegally held "cash stockpile".
He added: "We are disrupting Daesh command and control with targeted strikes that are restricting their freedom of movement and their logistic resupply."
Sir Michael acknowledged the fall of Mosul would not mean the end of ISIS in Iraq - but said it could be possible to drive them out of the country in the coming months.
RELATED STORIES
He said: "There remain pockets of Daesh resistance. However, we estimated at the beginning of a three-year campaign. Two years on we have made significant process. Daesh is a failing organisation.
"We ought to be able to get enough of Daesh out of Iraq over the next few months - the remaining months of this year and next year."
Coalition defence ministers will meet next month to discuss how to deal with the estimated 8,000 foreign nationals fighting with ISIS.
The number is believed to include around 400 UK nationals - some of whom are expected to try and return to Europe.
Fallon said: "The partners in the coalition are very clear their nationals who have gone off to fight and may have been involved in barbaric crimes should not be allowed to slip through the net without facing justice."
Sir Michael acknowledged the struggle against ISIS in Syria was "more complicated" - but insists "significant progress" had been made.
He accepted however the "Syrian democratic forces", which the coalition hopes will provide the ground force to take the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, would need strengthening before they were ready to take on the militants.
The Defence Secretary also bitterly condemned the Russians, whose warplanes he said "almost certainly" carried out the air strike on a UN aid convoy, which effectively spelt the end of the brief ceasefire in Syria.
"Instead of eventing more and more unbelievable excuses it's time Russia came clean," he said.
"If it was a mistake, Russia should apologise. If it was deliberate then the Russian commanders should be turned in for prosecution."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368