Iraqi soldiers fire a rocket toward Islamic State militants on the outskirts of the Makhmour south of Mosul, Iraq, March 25, 2016. Photo: Reuters/Azad Lashkaril/File PhotoMany Islamic State leaders have fled Mosul with their families toward Syria ahead of a planned offensive by U.S.-backed Iraqi forces on the city, Iraq's defense minister said on Saturday. Islamic State has lost at least half the territory it seized in Iraq in 2014. Iraq is expected to mobilize up to 30,000 forces to retake the city in coordination with U.S.-led coalition air support. Ten million Iraqis already require assistance, including more than 3 million who have been internally displaced - about one-tenth of the population.

Source: Thanhnien News July 30, 2016 21:00 UTC