French Rafael jets are poised and ready for airstrikes over the Iraqi city of Mosul, held since 2014 by the self-proclaimed Islamic State, also known as Daesh.
Rear Admiral Olivier Lebas from the French Navy says the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has moved into position in the eastern Mediterranean.
"The fall of Daesh is the final objective, which is what will happen by retaking Mosul and also by retaking Raqqa. Preparing for the Mosul battle, today is clearly a priority of the coalition.
As coalition forces ready for the battle, Iraq's Army has set up a radio station in, Qayyarah, just south of Mosul.
It has started warning Mosul citizens that the bombs are coming, it's time to leave.
IS may be in retreat, but it likely knows it doesn't face a united enemy.
The coalition on the ground relies on a complicated alliance of Shia, Sunni and Kurdish militia, all with competing agendas.
Turkey considers the Kurds to be terrorists and has set up a base in the area.
Iraq wants it gone from its territory.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reacted with outrage.
"You screaming and shouting from Iraq is of no importance to us. You should know that we'll do what we want. Who's this? Iraq's Prime Minister. Iraq's Prime Minister. First of all, know your place."
Iraq and the United States have not asked Turkey to join the fight against IS in Mosul.
But President Erdogan claims Turkey is there by invitation.
"Iraq had certain requests for us to build the Bashiqa base during Davutoglu's period, and we have records of this."
Turkey is eager to repeat in northern Iraq the aggressive cross-border operations it conducted in northern Syria.
Professor Amin Saikal is the Director of the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies at the Australian National University.
He says the aim of Turkey's involvement is to contain what it sees as a threat from the Kurds.
"They want to make sure that the Kurdish enclave in northern Iraq does not secure more autonomy than it has, and therefore, be in a position to provide a sanctuary for the PKK."And Turkey's prime minister Binali Yildirim is warning Turkish forces won't stand by if Kurdish fighter take hold of Mosul, or if Sunnis are prevented from returning.
"We have explained to all of our friends that the operation planned for Mosul should be limited to removing Daesh from Mosul. If you, after removing Daesh, attempt to change Mosul's demographic structure, you will light the fire of a very big civil war, of a sectarian war. This is our warning."
