Islamic State failing in Iraq says defence secretary Michael Fallon

Terror group Islamic State is "failing" in Iraq, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said - as he warned that the fight to regain the country's second largest city "will not be a quick operation".

Michael said around half of the RAF's bombing raids in the region were now concentrating on Mosul, which remains under so-called Islamic State's control.

And despite his warning over the timing of the operation, Michael told MPs confidence was high among Iraqi forces leading efforts to recapture Mosul from the militants.

Responding to an urgent question on Islamic State, also known as Daesh, in the Commons, he said: "This will not be a quick operation, and we can expect Daesh to fight hard to keep Mosul.

"When I visited Baghdad and Erbil three weeks ago, senior Iraqi and coalition commanders outlined their plans for Mosul.

"Their confidence is high and it is clear that Daesh is now failing."

Michael added that the terror group had recently suffered "a series of crushing defeats", adding: "Overall, the Daesh extremists now hold only 10% of Iraqi territory.

"Ridding Iraq of Daesh was never going to be quick or easy.

"As we enter the third year of the campaign, real progress is being made and defeating Daesh in the long term will help make the streets of Britain and Europe safer."

Iraqi forces are converging on Mosul from the east and the south, in what Michael called "the biggest offensive of the counter-Daesh campaign, designed to break Daesh's grip on the largest city still within its grasp".

He said the RAF had been providing "intelligence-gathering and intensive air support" to the offensive.

"More than half the RAF's recent strikes have been in and around Mosul," he added.

MPs heard that British military instructors are also alongside Iraqi forces providing support and training.

Michael said: "We recognise, as do the Iraqis, that this will be the greatest challenge that their security forces have yet encountered, with significant humanitarian implications."