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Former Russian Airborne Force commander says chances to liberate Mosul 'very high'

Apart from the Iraqi government forces, the operation involves Kurdish formations and the international anti-terror coalition

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MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. The international coalition’s operation to liberate the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia) has high chances for success, former Russian Airborne Force Commander, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Vladimir Shamanov said on Wednesday.

"The resources of the attacking force are quite sufficient in Mosul. Considering the support organized by the coalition from the air, the chances [to liberate the city] are high," Shamanov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV Channel.

Shamanov was commander of the Russian Airborne Force from 2009 to 2016 before he took up the post of the State Duma Defense Committee head.

The ground military operation to liberate Mosul was launched in the morning of October 17. Apart from the Iraqi government forces, the operation involves Kurdish formations and the international anti-terror coalition.

Mosul, Iraq’s second city with a population of 1.3 million, has been under the Islamic State’s control for over two years.

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Foreign policy Islamic State Syrian conflict

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