Hashd Al-Shaabi:

Ankara, Barzani Helping ISIL Commanders Flee Tal Afar

Rasa - Iraqi volunteer forces (Hashd al-Shaabi) spokesman Ahmad al-Assadi disclosed that the Ankara government and President of Iraq's Kurdistan Region Massoud Barzani are coordinating help to the Turkish-backed ISIL commanders to escape from the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh province.

News ID: 425209

Date: 21 November 2016 - 18:07

RNA - "In coordination with Barzani, Turkey is trying to take part in Tal Afar military operation in order to achieve its specific goals in Nineveh in addition to helping senior ISIL commanders to escape Tal Afar," al-Assadi told FNA on Monday.

He said by supporting Barzani, who also leads the Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party, Turkey is seeking to achieve its specific goals, including helping ISIL commanders to flee Nineveh province.

Al-Assadi said that after the Iraqi Hezbollah announced that it has prevented a Turkish airplane from assisting the terrorists flee Tal Afar, the Iraqi volunteer forces command headquarters has ordered troops to target and shoot down foreign airplanes flying over Tal Afar.

"Turkish airplanes have not attacked the ISIL's military positions in Iraq yet, but they are regularly flying over Tal Afar and it is quite evident that in coordination with Barzani, Turkey is trying to implement its plots in Nineveh province," he added.

Al-Assadi said according to intelligence, Turkey sought a role in Tal Afar military operation because of the presence of senior ISIL commanders who are linked to Turkey.

Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi volunteer forces managed to cut a strategic supply route of the ISL terrorists in Tal Afar.

"The Iraqi volunteer forces have blocked most of the supply roads to the ISIL in Tal Afar and have prepared a strategic plan for attacking the center of the city," Hashd al-Shaabi Security Spokesman Yousef al-Kalabi told FNA.

He, meantime, pointed to Hashd al-Shaabi's capture of Tal Afar airbase, and said, "The Iraqi volunteer forces struck a heavy blow at the ISIL by seizing control over Tal Afar airport in an area of 16 to 18 square kilometers in a several-hour-long battle," al-Kalabi added.

Al-Kalabi underlined that Hashd al-Shaabi forces have blocked the most important supply routes to Tal Afar airbase, and said, "Hashd al-Shaabi has taken control of 207 square kilometers of lands to the West of Mosul."

Commenting on the capture of the center of Tal Afar in Western Mosul, al-Kalabi said, "The command center of Iraqi volunteer forces has prepared a new strategic plan with regard to the presence of civilians who are used as human shield by the ISIL in the region in addition to military preparedness for starting a battle in Tal Afar region."

On Saturday, the Iraqi volunteer forces managed to cut a strategic road that connects the city of Tal Afar to Syria.

"Hashd al-Shaabi managed to block the ISIL terrorists' escape route from Tal Afar city to Syria by the disconnecting the road," Hashd al-Shaabi Command Center announced in a statement.

The Hashd al-Shaabi said that most of the ISIL's supply routes are also under the Iraqi forces' control now.

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