(VOVworld) – Iraq’s Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said on Saturday that many Islamic State leaders have fled Mosul toward Syria ahead of a planned offensive by US-backed Iraqi forces on the city.

Iraqi soldiers fire a rocket toward IS militants on the outskirts of the Makhmour south of Mosul, Iraq, March 25, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)

Obeidi said he had intelligence of increasing conflict, especially over financial issues. He said many IS leaders and their families in Mosul have sold their property and sneaked out towards Syria, and a segment even tried to sneak out towards Iraq's Kurdish region.
Islamic State has lost at least half the territory it seized in Iraq in 2014. Fighters in Mosul, the group’s de facto capital in Iraq and the largest city under its control anywhere across its self-proclaimed caliphate, are thought to number in the thousands but probably under 10,000. Iraq is expected to mobilize up to 30,000 forces to retake the city in coordination with US-led coalition air support.
The campaign has gained momentum in recent weeks after government forces restored Falluja and retook a key air base south of Mosul.