Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
米ウォールストリート・ジャーナル（ＷＳＪ）紙によると、米中央軍のオースティン司令官は、イスラム国が昨年夏に制圧したイラクの都市モスルを奪還するため、米国とイラクが今年の夏までに攻勢に出る準備を開始した、と明らかにした。
具体的には、部隊の編成と訓練、イスラム国兵士に対する供給ラインの切断などの準備を進めている。
ただ、オースティン司令官は、攻撃開始前にイラク部隊の準備が整っていることが必要だ、との認識を示した。
同司令官は「米国が単独で行ったり、他の同盟国の地上部隊と一緒に行えばより迅速に動けるが、イラク自らが行うべきだ」との考えを示した。
イラクの２部隊がモスル奪還を主導する見通しで、軍幹部によると、４─６週間の米国の軍事訓練を受けるという。
イスラム国人質事件
Japanese hostage Kenji Goto Jogo captured by ISIL(01 of09)
ALEPPO, SYRIA - JANUARY 20: In this file photo, dated as October 24, 2014, Japanese journalist Kenji Goto Jogo, captured by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) and one of two Japanese hostages, is seen in Aleppo, Syria. (Photo by Ahmed Muhammed Ali/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Japan Islamic State(02 of09)
Junko Ishido, mother of Japanese journalist Keni Goto taken hostage by Islamic State, speaks during a press conference in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 23, 2015. Goto\'s mother said her son went to Syria to try to secure a friend\'s release, corroborating comments by others who said he was trying to rescue Yukawa, who was taken hostage earlier. The deadline for paying ransom for two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State group was fast approaching early Friday with no signs of a breakthrough. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japanese hostage's mother hold a press conference in Tokyo(03 of09)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Junko Ishidou, the mother of Kenji Goto, one of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\'s (ISIL) hostages in Northern Syria, cries as she gives a speech during a press conference in early morning on January 23, 2015, at the FCCJ (foreign correspondents club of Japan) in Tokyo, Japan. Five hours were left to the expire of the 72 hours deadline to pay the 200 million USD ransom that demanded by ISIL. (Photo by David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Japanese hostage's mother hold a press conference in Tokyo(04 of09)
TOKYO, JAPAN - JANUARY 23: Junko Ishidou, the mother of Kenji Goto, one of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant\'s (ISIL) hostages in Northern Syria, arrives to hold a press conference in early morning on January 23, 2015, at the FCCJ (foreign correspondents club of Japan) in Tokyo, Japan. Five hours were left to the expire of the 72 hours deadline to pay the 200 million USD ransom that demanded by ISIL. (Photo by David Mareuil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Japan Islamic State(05 of09)
Kosuke Tsuneoka, a Japanese freelance journalist, listens during a news conference about the two Japanese hostages held by the Islamic State group, at the Foreign Correspondents\' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. Tsuneoka, who was held hostage in Afghanistan in 2010, also offered to reach out to the Islamic State group, with Ko Nakata, an expert on Islamic law, to try to save the hostages. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Japan Islamic State(06 of09)
Kosuke Tsuneoka, a Japanese freelance journalist, prepares to answer questions about the two hostages held by the Islamic State group, at the Foreign Correspondents\' Club of Japan in Tokyo, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015. Tsuneoka, who was held hostage in Afghanistan in 2010, also offered to reach out to the Islamic State group, with Ko Nakata, an expert on Islamic law, to try to save the hostages. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
JAPAN-IRAQ-SYRIA-CONFLICT-HOSTAGE(07 of09)
Ko Nakata, Islamic law scholar and visiting professor of Japan\'s Doshisha University, speaks to the press in Tokyo on January 22, 2015, saying he would be able to mediate talks between the Japanese government and the Islamic State over the current hostage crisis following the Islamic State group\'s demand of 200 million USD for the lives of freelance journalist Kenji Goto and self-employed contractor Haruna Yukawa. Japan\'s hostage crisis is a stark reminder that Tokyo\'s deep pockets and alliance with the US make it a target for Islamist militants, analysts say, even if the nation considers itself far removed from Middle Eastern conflicts. AFP PHOTO / Yoshikazu TSUNO (Photo credit should read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:YOSHIKAZU TSUNO via Getty Images)
Mideast Israel Palestinians Japan(08 of09)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe shake hands after holding a joint press conference at the Palestinian Authority headquarters, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. An online video released Tuesday purported to show the Islamic State group threatening to kill two Japanese hostages unless they receive a $200 million ransom in the next 72 hours. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
ISRAEL-JAPAN-IRAQ-SYRIA-HOSTAGES-DIPLOMACY-ABE(09 of09)
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference at a hotel in Jerusalem on January 20, 2015, demanding that the Islamic State group immediately free two Japanese hostages unharmed after the jihadists posted a video threat to kill them. The Islamic State group threatened to kill the two Japanese hostages unless Tokyo pays a $200 million ransom within 72 hours to compensate for non-military aid that Abe pledged to support the campaign against IS during an ongoing Middle East. AFP PHOTO / THOMAS COEX (Photo credit should read THOMAS COEX/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:THOMAS COEX via Getty Images)