Sean Macfarland

The Iraqi army said today its troops and allied militia had launched what is expected to be a long and difficult offensive to retake the second city of Mosul, the ISIS's main hub in Iraq.

The Pentagon is pressing European and Arab allies to provide more troops and support for the war against the Islamic State, hoping that the horror of the Paris attacks - and the fear more are coming will compel them to get more deeply involved.

The Iraqi army said today its troops and allied militia had launched what is expected to be a long and difficult offensive to retake the second city of Mosul, the ISIS's main hub in Iraq.

The Pentagon is pressing European and Arab allies to provide more troops and support for the war against the Islamic State, hoping that the horror of the Paris attacks - and the fear more are coming will compel them to get more deeply involved.