U.S. sees Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul in April-May

The United States sees an Iraqi military offensive involving 20,000-25,000 troops to retake Mosul from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in April-May, a U.N. military official said on Thursday.

Mosul was currently held by a force of Islamic militants between 1,000 and 2,000 members, the U.S. military official told reporters, according to Reuters.

No decision has been made on whether small numbers of U.S. military advisers might need to be on the ground close to Mosul to direct close air support, the unnamed official said.

  Also read: Exclusive: ISIS chief Baghdadi in new pictures