Foreign IS members killed as troops target group’s locations in Tal Afar

Tal Afar (IraqiNews.com) Several Islamic State foreign militants were killed as the pro-government paramilitary troops targeted some of the group locations in Tal Afar town.

A statement by the media service of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Units) said, “the 26th brigade targeted the militants gathering at al-Hassan Kowi region in Tal Afar.”

“The shelling targeted several foreign militants including abu Youssef al-Roussi and Abu Youness al-Azri, who is a military leader within the group,” the statement added. “A telecommunications center was destroyed and a member known as Saud Qablan was killed. Moreover, the soldiers department was destroyed.”

Earlier on Monday, Lt.Gen. Shaker Jawdat, chief of Federal Police, said twenty IS militants were killed as troops advanced through regions in west of Tal Afar and gained control on the militant group’s tunnel network that stretches along 250 kilometers and was used for training. Many villages in the town were recaptured.

Iraqi troops resumed their advance on the second day of operations to liberate Tal Afar town, after Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi announced on Sunday in a televised speech the beginning of offensive to recapture the town, one of the important strongholds still held by IS in Nineveh, which has been held by the militants since 2014, when the extremist group first emerged to proclaim its self-styled ‘caliphate’.

More than 1400 Islamic State militants with Arab and foreign nationalities are estimated to be in Tal Afar town Brig.Gen. Yehia Rasool, the military spokesperson, said in remarks.