A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter holds a a rocket-propelled grenade launcher as he takes up position in an area overlooking Baretle village (background), which is controlled by the Islamic State, in Khazir, on the edge of Mosul September 8, 2014. The Kurdish f
A Kurdish Peshmerga fighter holds a a rocket-propelled grenade launcher as he takes up position in an area overlooking Baretle village (background), which is controlled by the Islamic State. Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah

The United States’ declaration of a timeframe to retake Mosul has earned the ire of the Iraqi defence minister. Khaled al-Obeidi said military commanders should not reveal their plans to the enemy.

The Iraqi official slammed the announcement of the U.S. and said the timing of the Mosul assault should be for Iraq to decide. Obeidi added that the official from the U.S. Central Command may have no knowledge about the issue when he estimated the timeframe of the attack to be in April or May, reports The Guardian.

ISIS militants had seized Mosul in June 2014 as they advanced through northern Iraq towards Baghdad. The U.S. and its allies have launched numerous airstrikes against ISIS targets. U.S. troops are helping Iraqi government forces train to recapture Mosul. Previous reports have indicated that the fight for Mosul is expected to be crucial in the struggle for control in Northern Iraq.

An official from the U.S. Central Command had revealed last week that a Kurdish and Iraqi military force between 20,000 and 25,000 troops are being trained to retake the largest city in northern Iraq either in April or May. However, the Iraqi defence minister refused to confirm the schedule of the attack and expressed his irritation over the U.S. official’s announcement.

Obeidi told a news conference in Baghdad it is important to be accurate and take time to plan for the battle since Mosul has civilian population. “ A military official should not reveal the timing of an offensive,” said the Iraqi defence minister.

Iraqi officials said the attack in Mosul will happen within months but most of them admit the government needs greater international military support. Following the criticism against the U.S., the country’s new defence secretary Ash Carter told media that he would not reveal the precise timeframe of an offensive for Mosul.

Meanwhile, ISIS militants have reportedly taken U.S.-made weapons and armored vehicles from Iraq’s western Anbar province. CNN reports that an online video had emerged showing ISIS fighters attacking an Iraqi military post before taking dozens of weapons including M-16s.

According to CNN, the authenticity of the video could not be verified but if the footage was true, it would not be the first time the ISIS militants had seized U.S.-made weapons. ISIS had gained access to military arsenals in northern Iraq in June with stockpiles of U.S.-made assault rifles, ammunition and other heavy weapons.

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