Iraqi Army Begins Major Offensive to Capture Main ISIL Stronghold West of Mosul

Rasa - Iraqi Armed Forces started the long-awaited offensive to capture Tal Afar city West of Mosul from the ISIL militants, local reports said.

News ID: 430270

Date: 11 June 2017 - 22:38

RNA - Iraqi Army’s 15th Division, in coordination with Popular Mobilization Forces and Kataeb Hezbollah battalions, launched a powerful assault on the Eastern flank of Tal Afar pocket, Al Masdar reported.

Having successfully broken through the first line of ISIL defense, government forces managed to liberate six villages, namely Tal Khima, Shiek Qura, Baligha, Zarnook, Mahafeef and Dam Sinjar.

Intense clashes were ongoing, before Iraqi Army and allies stopped the advance to establish and fortify defensive positions in the liberated villages and their surroundings.

The operaton to liberate Tal Afar began after Iraq's pro-government Popular Mobilization Forces accomplished their goals in the battle against the ISIL terrorist group in the Western flank of the flashpoint city of Mosul.

Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of the forces commonly known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Shaabi, broke the news, adding that the fighters had already "liberated 14,000 square kilometers and 360 villages".

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