Islamic State imposes curfew in Tal Afar following explosion sounds

Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Curfew was imposed in Tal Afar town, west of Mosul, as huge sound of explosion was heard on Wednesday, a local source from Nineveh was quoted saying.

“Huge explosion sound was heard on Wednesday evening in Tal Afar, and was followed by heaving shooting,” the source told AlSumaria News.

“Islamic State militants imposed curfew,” speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said, adding that “the reason behind the explosion was unknown, which urged the group to impose the curfew.”

The group has been on high alert as the group’s head of training camps was killed in an airstrike in the town earlier on Wednesday.

Tal Afar is one of the important strongholds still held by IS in Nineveh since August 2014. The town has been set as the next target of operations after victory was declared in Mosul on July 10.

Iraqi Defense Ministry said last week that a date has been set for the invasion of the town, however, it will not be declared to maintain the secrecy of the intended operations.

During a weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi said a special plan has been drawn to invade Tal Afar.