Turkish-trained forces are participating in the military operation to recapture Iraq’s northern city of Mosul from Daesh terrorist organization, the former Mosul governor said Monday.
Atheel Nujaifi, who is also the commander of Nineveh Guards, which were trained by Turkey in Bashiqa camp, said some 2,000 Sunni fighters have joined the offensive and they were acting with the Kurdish peshmerga forces.
Iraqi forces began advancing Sunday midnight on Mosul, the last Daesh stronghold in northern Iraq.
In televised statements, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said only Iraqi army and police forces would be in the city.
The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) also said a simultaneous operation has started against Daesh with the participation KRG peshmerga forces.
U.S.-led coalition jets also supported peshmerga forces in the anti-Daesh campaign, it said.