US to Launch Op to Retake Mosul from ISIS

The Pentagon is announcing an upcoming operation to take back Iraq's second largest city from the Islamic State.

The operation to take Mosul will involve up to 25,000 Iraqi and Pershmerga (Kurdish) troops trained by the American-led coalition.

Military leaders have long talked of retaking the city but wanted to hold off on launching the offensive until the Iraqi troops are ready.

An official from the U.S. Central Command said the operation will likely begin in April or May since they want to retake the city before the summer heat and the holiday month of Ramadan kick in.

"But by the same token, if they're not ready, if the conditions are not set, if all the equipment they need is not physically there and they (aren't) trained to a degree in which they will be successful, we have not closed the door on continuing to slide that to the right," he said.

The move comes as the Obama administration is drawing fire for refusing to call ISIS and other groups Islamic terrorists.

Critics warn that it's difficult to truly defeat an enemy, if you won't acknowledge their true identity.