Iraqi Forces Free More Areas in Tal Afar

TEHRAN (defapress) – Iraqi military forces stepped up their attack on Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) militants in Tal Afar, managing to retake many districts in the town located 63 kilometers west of Mosul in Nineveh province.

News ID: 65684

Date: 22 August 2017 - 12:10

The Iraqi troops on Monday continued to make gains in their fight against Daesh and succeeded in liberating eleven areas, including Tal Rihal, Jabbara, Hussein Idris, al-Mulla and al-Majeed villages, southwest of Tal Afar, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, of the Joint Operations Command and the War Media Cell in Tal Afar, said in a statement, Iraqi media reported.

Earlier in the day, Iraqi troops announced the liberation of Toumi, Majarin, Mulla Jassim and Abret Aziz.

"Troops cut off al-Kask road in Mahlabiya direction," Yarallah said.

In the meantime, the media bureau of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, reported that volunteer forces and the 9th Armored Division of the Iraqi Army took full control over the route linking Tal Afar to Mosul.

Iraqi forces launched on Sunday an offensive to take back the city of Tal Afar.

"You either surrender or die," Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi said in a televised speech announcing the offensive, addressing the militants.

Tal Afar was cut off from the rest of Daesh-held territory in June.

About 2,000 battle-hardened militants remain in the city, according to Iraqi military commanders.