(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) BAGHDAD, July 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi announced on Saturday liberation of the Qayyarah air base in Nineveh, calling on the people of the governorate to get ready for the full liberation.
Freeing Qayyarah air base will give Iraqi forces - who are backed by US air strikes - a strategic launch-pad to wage their offensive to finally liberate Mosul, considered to be ISIS''s last stronghold in Iraq, a government statement quoted him as saying.
"We want to announce the good news to all of the Iraqis and especially to the people of Nineveh," he added.
Qayyarah air base is located south of Mosul, Iraq''s second largest city and Nineveh''s capital.
After liberating the IS-stronghold city of Fallujah west of Iraq in late June after it was occupied for two years by the militant group, the Iraqi government is vying to liberate Mosul, which is located only a few dozen kilometers from autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. (end) aha.tg