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THE CHRISTIAN TOWN OF QARAQOSH has been entered by the Iraqi military on October 22. The town situated near Mosul was captured by Islamic forces in 2014

Ash Carter, U.S. Secretary of Defense, is meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad to forward plans to remove the Islamic State from Mosul. Carter indicated that he had previously visited Ankara and solidified Turkey’s participation in the move to liberate Mosul. Al-Abadi the Iraqi Prime Minster however does not desire Turkey’s help unless officially requested by Iraq itself.

Interestingly Kurdish Peshmerga infantry are fighting alongside Iraqi units in the attempt to free Mosul while Turkey reportedly is killing Kurdish soldiers in Syria. The Iraqi forces have liberated over 40 cities since they began the offensive on October 17.