Peshmerga repels IS attack, kills four militants, northwest of Tal Afar
Kurdish Peshmerga forces. File photo.
“IS militants launched an attack against troops late on Sunday near Aiyadhiya region, which was thwarted,” A Peshmerga commander Kamel Herki told the Kurdish Rudaw network.
“The clashes left four militants killed, while the fifth committed suicide. Twelve others were captivated,” he added.
Earlier on Monday, the pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces, along with the army forces, managed to take over “Ayyadiya farms” and “Mohaled al-Khalaf” farmlands, east and south of the region where Iraqi commanders say the remaining militants are besieged.
Earlier on the day, the military media said government troops and allied paramilitary forces had retaken full control over the town in a seven-day offensive after Iraqi PM Haidar al-Abadi announced in a televised speech on August 20 the beginning of operations 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.
Up to 2000 Islamic State fighters are believed to remain in Tal Afar, Brig. Gen. Yehia Rasool, the JOC’s spokesperson, said in remarks last week.