U.S. commanders describe Mosul as the last major urban center with a significant al-Qaida presence since the terror network has been driven from its strongholds in the capital and Anbar province.
The U.S. military, which a military spokesman said earlier this month was the last urban safe haven for al-Qaida-led insurgents, has said Iraqi security forces will take the lead in Mosul a major test of Washington's plan to, at an undetermined date, shrink the American force and leave it as backup for Iraqi security forces.