Iraq Prime Minister Promises Victory In Mosul

Iraq launched a radio station this week to broadcast directly to people living in the ISIS-occupied city of Mosul.

In his first message, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said they will soon be liberated.

The Sunni-led extremist group took control of Mosul in 2014 as it swept across Iraq and Syria, but since then it has lost much of the territory it captured. The retaking of Iraq's second-largest city would be another blow.

Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with NPR national security editor Phil Ewing about the upcoming offensive.

Phil Ewing, NPR national security editor. He tweets @philewing.