Jul 6, 2017

The Islamic State group is on the verge of defeat in its former Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, where the jihadists will be fully ousted by next week, a coalition general said Thursday.

Canadian Brigadier General Dave Anderson, who oversees the training of local forces for the US-led coa

lition, said Iraqi security forces have pushed IS into a final, small pocket of Mosul's Old City by the Tigris River.

"Iraq forces are within sight of the Tigris River from the west, and are facing an enemy on its absolutely last legs," Anderson told reporters in a video call from Baghdad.

When asked how many IS fighters were left in Mosul, the general said he did not know but added he had "no doubt" there'd be none left by next week.