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Int'l coalition against IS plans to liberate Mosul, Rekka by year-end: French minister

Xinhua, April 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

The international coalition fighting the Islamic State (IS) plans to retake Mosul in Iraq and Rekka in Syria, the group's main strongholds in the region, by the year-end, French defense minister said on Thursday.

Speaking to France info radio, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian estimated that conditions were "coming together" to uproot IS fighters.

"I think the conditions are in the process of coming together for eradicating Daesh (Arabic acronym for IS). I say that cautiously but for the first time, I have this slightly optimistic message," the French minister said.

"I note that Daesh is retreating significantly," he added, arguing that the cell had lost between 30 and 40 percent of its territory in Iraq and Syria since their attempt to attack Baghdad in 2014. Endit