But that can't happen yet because Qayara base has come under frequent rocket fire. When Iraqi forces retook Fallujah in June, tens of thousands of residents who fled were housed in sprawling desert camps with little food, water or shelter. Tel Afar, a mostly Shiite town about 70 kilometers (45 miles) west of Mosul, would be a likely target for the militias. Iraqi officials estimate that upgrading the Qayara base could take four to six weeks, once the area around it is secured. Retaking Mosul would be far more significant, robbing the IS of the jewel of its self-declared caliphate.

Source: ABC News July 31, 2016 10:20 UTC