Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi has said Islamic State fighters lack the courage to put up long-term resistance in Mosul as the fight for the country’s second-largest city looks set to extend well into 2017.
“We have seen the whole organisation collapsing in terms of standing in the face of our own armed forces,” Mr al-Abadi said.
Militants attacked targets in and around the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Friday in an assault quickly claimed by the Islamic State group and aimed at diverting attention from the battle to retake IS-held Mosul.
At least 11 workers, including two Iranians, were killed when IS militants stormed a power plant north of Kirkuk and then blew themselves up.
