Iraqi Gov't Forces Ready to Launch Fresh Anti-ISIL Operation to Liberate Huweija

Rasa - The Iraqi pro-government forces announced that they are preparing to kick off a fresh round of large-scale operations in the Central part of the country to drive ISIL terrorists out of the town of Huweija, a media outlet reported Saturday.

News ID: 432130

Date: 03 September 2017 - 19:09

RNA - The English-language AMN website reported that the Iraqi government and popular forces announced their new plan to a launch large-scale operation to retake Huweija, the last urban bastion of ISIL in the country, after recapturing Tal Afar city and region.

Iraqi soldiers have now forced the ISIL out of the entire territories except the town of Huweija, 300 kilometers (190 miles) North of Baghdad, and three pockets of territory near the border with Syria.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced on Thursday the complete liberation of the city of Tal Afar and the whole territory of the Nineveh Province from ISIL terrorists.

Abadi said as cited by local TV channel that Tal Afar, a strategically important city in Northwestern Iraq, which is located near the border with Syria, was liberated after being held by ISIL for some three years.

After the fall of Mosul, Tal Afar became ISIL's last stronghold in the war-plagued country.

The Iraqi government forces' operation to retake the city was kicked off on August 20.The city was seized by militants in 2014. Before the seizure, it was home to 750,000 people.

The Iraqi federal police announced the end of the military operation to liberate the city of Tal Far on August 26.

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