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        Pentagon: US-led Airstrikes Kill 2 Top IS Commanders Near Mosul

   by VOA News

   A U.S.-led coalition airstrike killed two top Islamic State military
   commanders last week near Mosul, the Pentagon announced Friday.

   They include a deputy minister of war who led Islamic State's capture
   of the Iraqi city in 2014.

   "Removing these terrorist leaders from the battlefield shapes the
   environment for Iraqi forces to ultimately liberate Mosul with support
   from the international coalition," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook said.

   Those killed were Islamic State deputy war minister Basim Muhammad
   Ahmad Sultan al-Bajari and military commander Hatim Talib al-Hamduni.

   After freeing the city of Fallujah from Islamic State, Iraqi forces are
   now turning their attention to Mosul, Iraq's second-largest city.

   Iraqi military leaders say they hope to liberate Mosul by the end of
   the year, but the Pentagon believes it may take longer.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/pentagon-us-led-airstrike-kill-top-tw
   o-is-military-commanders/3401277.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/pentagon-us-led-airstrike-kill-top-two-is-military-commanders/3401277.html