Australian soldiers could remain in Iraq into 2018, despite the imminent recovery of Mosul from Islamic State.
IS - also known as Daesh - now controls only a small section of the old city with fewer than 400 fighters left.
Joint operations chief Vice Admiral David Johnston said the liberation of Mosul was inevitable as Iraqi security forces tighten their advance and squeeze out militants.
"I expect success is now measured within days for when Mosul will be declared as having been cleared," he told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
The federal government has committed to supporting Iraq through to the defeat of IS - but how long that might take is unclear.
"I expect our contribution to be there well through the end of the year in its current format and potentially into next year as well," Vice Admiral Johnston said.
"It will all depend on how quickly the Iraqi government decides it needs to move on those other pockets of Daesh resistance."
The fight is expected to continue into smaller towns such as Tal Afar, Hawijah and up through the Euphrates River Valley.
In the meantime, Iraq will need time to replenish its security forces, with about 1000 killed and 6000 injured in Mosul alone as of late May
"So there is still significant work to occur in that country," Vice Admiral Johnston said.
"The pace by which the Iraqi forces can move will be determined by how quickly they can reconstitute themselves."
Share
