Egypt expressed on Monday full support for the Iraqi government and people with the start of a large-scale military operation to retake Mosul from Daesh.

In a press statement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abul Zeid said Egypt wishes that the operation would achieve the hoped-for success.

The spokesman stressed that Daesh terrorist group and those who support it or adopt their ideology cannot survive against the will of peace-loving peoples.

Iraqi government forces, with air and ground support from the US-led coalition, launched an offensive early Monday to drive Daesh out from the city of Mosul, the militants' last major stronghold in the country with the participation of Peshmerga and tribal fighters.

The assault on the northern city was the biggest operation mounted by the Iraqi military since U.S. forces withdrew in 2011.

Source: MENA