Iraqi joint troops recapture more regions in Tal Afar
Iraqi army forces in Tal Afar, wsst of Nineveh.
Joint troops of army and pro-government al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) liberated al-Nour al-Oula district, Lt.Gen. Abdul Amir Yarallah, commander of Tal Afar Operations, said in a statement by the War Media Cell on Thursday.
Another statement by the media service of the PMUs said, “joint troops liberated on Thursday al-Khadraa district in east of Tal Afar following clashes that lasted for two days.”
The troops also indicated “removing explosives and landmines planted by IS to hinder the troops advance.”
Moreover, joint forces freed al-Jazeera region in east of the town.
“Paramilitary troops are 250 kilometers away from the center of the town,” the statement added.
Several regions and villages were freed in Tal Afar since operations started earlier this week after Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi announced on Sunday in a televised speech the beginning of offensive to recapture Tal Afar, which has been held by the militants since 2014, when the extremist group first emerged to proclaim its self-styled ‘caliphate’. This came after 40 days of declaring victory in Mosul, the group’s former capital, where operations lasted between October to July.
More than 1400 Islamic State militants with Arab and foreign nationalities are estimated to be in the town, according to military commanders.