伊拉克總理宣佈對摩蘇爾的攻勢開始
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has announced the formal start of a military push to drive Islamic State extremists from the northern stronghold city of Mosul.
The announcement on state television early Monday signals the opening of the largest military operation in that country since U.S. forces left five years ago.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter said this is a "decisive moment" in the campaign to defeat Islamic State and pledged support from the U.S.-led coalition.
"We are confident our Iraq partners will prevail against our common enemy and free Mosul and the rest of Iraq from ISIL's hatred and brutality," he said in a statement.
In the hours before the announcement, the Iraqi Air Force dropped thousands of leaflets on Mosul, warning residents of the coming offensive to liberate the city.伊拉克總理海德爾∙阿巴迪宣佈向摩蘇爾的軍事進攻正式開始，目的是將伊斯蘭國極端組織趕出這座北部城市。
阿巴迪總理星期一早晨在電視上宣佈了這個消息。這將是美軍五年前撤出後伊拉克最大規模的軍事行動。
美國國防部長卡特表示，這是擊敗伊斯蘭國極端組織的一個決定性時刻，他還承諾美國領導的聯盟將提供支持。
卡特國防部長在聲明中說：“我們有信心，我們的伊拉克夥伴能夠打敗我們的共同敵人，把摩蘇爾以及伊拉克其他地方從伊斯蘭國的仇恨與殘酷行徑中解救出來。”
做出這一宣佈的幾小時前，伊拉克政府在摩蘇爾撒下了大批傳單，警告當地居民解放這座城市的攻勢即將開始。
