On Sunday, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the beginning of the “Operation we are coming Tal Afar” to liberate Tal Afar area west of Mosul from ISIS.
“I say to ISIS fighters either you surrender or you will be killed” Abadi said in an official statement.
The Iraqi Army, security forces and the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) mobilized more than 40,000 soldier for this operation. The 40,000 Iraqi soldiers will face 2,000 ISIS fighters in Tal Afar.
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So far the Iraqi Army captured the following areas:
- A’abrah Kabira, and A’abrah Saqirah villages northwest of Tal Afar town;
- Batishah, al-Alam, Khfajah, Halabiah al-Awliah and Mrazif villages east of Tal Afar town;
- Qazel Qew, and Kasser Mehrab villages southwest of Tal Afar;
- Al-Najar, and al-Hanash villages east of Tal Afar.
The PMU forces also captured the southern part of the Zambar mountains and cut off the Tal Afar-al-Muhalabiah road.
ISIS has not shown any real resistance so far because ISIS fighters there are poorly armed because of the PMU-Peshmerga siege for almost a year. Iraqi sources believe that the main battle will take place in Tal Afar town.
Photos from the Tal Afar area:
