UK forces to launch 'final battle' to expel IS from Iraq stronghold
British military forces will take part in a massive offensive in Mosul in a few weeks in a last effort to push so-called Islamic State (IS) out of its Iraqi stronghold, Michael Fallon has revealed.
The defence secretary said the city will soon become "encircled" as the operation gets underway to wrest control of the remaining 10% of Iraq still controlled by the terror group.
"This is the final battle," Mr Fallon told ITV News.
"Thanks to the contribution of the RAF, the training provided by British troops as part of an international coalition, we now have the very real prospect of Daesh losing their last stronghold in Iraq and being pushed out of Iraq altogether."
Video report by ITV News at Ten presenter Tom Bradby
The defence secretary also revealed that a billion dollars of cash had been destroyed in airstrikes against IS's bank vaults as part of efforts to further destablise the terrorist group.
Mr Fallon said the government does not know how long its offensive in Mosul will last, but added that plans have been put in place to help Iraq recover after the battle.
"A lot of work has gone into preparing what we call 'the day after Mosul', to ensure that there is humanitarian aid ready to go in [and] there is temporary accommodation for those who have to leave the city," Mr Fallon said.
"Britain has announced an extra £40 million this week, so we're prepared now to deal with the aftermath and give people the confidence to return to their homes."
Following the recent attack on a UN convoy in Syria, Mr Fallon said Russia should accept responsibility for its alleged role in the airstrike, which killed 21 people.
"It looks to have been their aircraft - [Russia] needs to stop pretending it was nothing to do with them," he said.
The defence secretary added that coalition forces would apologise if it is confirmed that US-led forces attacked the Syrian military at its Deir al-Zour base, killing at least 80 soldiers.
On Friday, warplanes backed by the Russian air force launched a second day of bombardment in rebel-held parts of eastern Aleppo in Syria, in an attack described by rescue workers as "annihilation".