WASHINGTON -- In Syria and Iraq, local ground forces backed by the U.S.-led coalition have made significant progress over the past two days in the fight to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters today.

On Sunday in northern Syria, Turkish-backed Syrian opposition forces, supported by the coalition, liberated six towns and villages from ISIL, including the town of Dabiq.

"Freeing Dabiq over the weekend holds military and symbolic significance," Cook said. "Dabiq was so important to ISIL's propaganda machine that the terror group's magazine was named after this town."

ISIL conducted barbaric atrocities in Dabiq, and even claimed its final victory will take place there, the press secretary said. "Instead, its forces have been defeated in Dabiq, just as they have been in territory across Syria and in Iraq," he said.

"We applaud the Turkish and Syrian opposition forces that took part in the battle to liberate the people of Dabiq from ISIL oppression," Cook said.

Cook then referred to Defense Secretary Ash Carter's statement Sunday in which the secretary said the Department of Defense particularly appreciates "the close coordination we've had with Turkey in this effort."

ISF OPS FOR MOSUL BEGIN

Monday morning in Iraq, Prime Minister [Haider] Abadi announced that Iraqi forces, with the support of the counter-ISIL coalition, had begun operations to liberate Mosul at 6 a.m., Baghdad time.

"This is a decisive moment in the counter-ISIL campaign," Cook said. "It is in Mosul that ISIL's leader chose to announce its so-called caliphate. Mosul is also, historically, a diverse, multi-ethnic, multi-sectarian city, precisely the opposite of ISIL's hate-filled ideology. So, Mosul carries a great deal of symbolic importance in this fight as well."

More than just a symbol, Cook said, Mosul is a city of more than a million people. In the two years since ISIL took control of the city, its terrorist members have brutalized the city's population, committing horrific atrocities.

"This is a fight to free hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis from ISIL's rule," he said.

'IRAQIS FIRMLY IN THE LEAD'

"This fight is taking place with Iraqis firmly in the lead, including thousands of Iraqi army personnel, counterterrorism forces, federal police [and] Kurdish peshmerga and Sunni tribal forces [who] are also playing a critical role in this fight," Cook said.

The Iraqi forces have the support of an international counter-ISIL coalition of 60 nations led by the United States, which is providing advice and assistance, logistical support, intelligence and precision airpower.

Cook noted the coalition has conducted more than 54,000 training cycles for Iraqi forces and executed more than 10,000 precision strikes in Iraq -- including more than 70 in the Mosul area just this month. The Iraqi forces will have the continued support of the coalition as they move forward.

"The role of U.S. and coalition forces will continue to be one of supporting the [Iraqis]," he said.

MOSUL LIBERATION COULD TAKE TIME

"We are on the first day of what we assume will be a difficult campaign that could take some time," Cook said. According to Cook, early indications are that Iraqi forces have so far met their objectives and are ahead of schedule.

"This is going according to the Iraqi plan, but again, it's early, and the enemy gets a vote here," he said.

"We will see whether ISIL stands and fights," the press secretary continued. "We are confident [that], no matter what, however, the Iraqis have the capabilities to get this job done, and we stand ready to support them along with the rest of the coalition."

Cook added, "It is in our interest that they succeed, and we will do what we can to help them."